Rally to seek Agong's intervention in Felda listing

PAS-linked NGO Anak will stage a mammoth rally in Kuala Lumpur on July 14 to seek the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's intervention in the listing of Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) on Bursa Malaysia.

Dubbed as "Orange Rally to Save Felda", Anak chief Mazlan Aliman said the protesters will gather outside the Federal Territories mosque on Jalan Duta at 2pm and then march toward the new Istana Negara, which is in the vicinity.

"We expect at least 20,000 people to turn up for the rally. PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang will lead the 2km procession," Mazlan (left) said when contacted today.

PAS number two Mohamad Sabu will be the chairperson of the Bersih-inspired rally, while Mazlan will be the chief coordinator.

Mazlan said the organising committee intends to rope in NGOs from the Bersih coalition, anti-Internal Security Act movement and anti-PPSMI (teaching and learning of mathematics and science in English) movement to fight for the cause of maintaining the current Felda structure.

“We will even try to get the political parties in BN, especially Umno, to be with us because this is mainly a Malay issue. Ninety-seven percent of Felda settlers are Malay,” Mazlan said.

When asked why the rally is being held on July 14 although FGV is to be listed on June 28, Mazlan said it will serve as the climax of a series of protest activities.

The PAS central committee member said they will soon launch legal challenges to halt the FGV listing, while hosting roadshows around the country.

Asked about potential hindrance from the police on the protest venue, he said they will follow the procedures but will not bow to pressure in any circumstance.

“This is unless Prime Minister Najib (Abdul Razak) decides to cancel the listing of FGV,” he added.

PM urged to retract ‘haram jadah’ remark

Meanwhile, earlier in Putrajaya, Mazlan led a group of Felda settlers to submit a legal demand urging the PM to retract his “haram jadah” (illegitimate children) slur against the critics of the FGV listing exercise.

Represented by lawyer Hanif Abdullah, the notice demands that Najib apologise within 48 hours and provide compensation of RM10,000 to each of the eight purported victims of his derogatory remark.

Mazlan explained that the eight, who sought an injunction in Kuantan to prevent Felda Investment Cooperative (KPF) from disposing off its equity to FGV, were directly implicated in the same speech by the PM before he came to utter the “haram jadah” words.

“As such, they have the locus standi to demand compensation,” he said.

The legal notice was handed over to the PM’s confidential secretary Saiful Azhar at about 3.30pm today.