`Himpun Sejuta Umat' Makes a stand against apostasy

 Datuk Dr Hasan Ali

 Mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria

 Ibrahim Ali

The planned gathering of a million Muslims saw only a few thousand people showing up at the Shah Alam Stadium here, but organisers said they had met their objective of defending the faith against threats of apostasy.

Arguing that the spirit of those present at the Himpunan Sejuta Umat (Himpun) assembly was more important than the number, chief organiser Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid said it was a success as it proved that Muslims could come together to talk calmly about issues affecting their religion.

“We are not concerned about the numbers,” he said after the four-hour gathering that started at 2pm yesterday

“It can be a small number but the spirit is the same, whether one million came ... or one hundred thousand or one thousand,” Mohd Azmi said.

“This rally is a symbol of Muslim unity, of Muslim determination to keep the country free of religious tension,” he said.

“We conducted the gathering without any feelings of animosity towards non-Muslims,” he said, adding that the nation's founding fathers had advised against attempts to proselytise Muslims.

Mohd Azmi also stressed that it was the right of Muslims to stand up against what they saw as an encroachment on Islam, which is accorded a special position in the Constitution.

“This is the right of the Muslims.

“We are not intruding, we are not transgressing, we are not violating the rights of the non-Muslims,” he said.

In keeping with Muslim tradition, the men and women sat separately in the stadium to hear speakers urging the followers to remain faithful to their cause.

Banners strung across the stadium read:

“Say no to apostasy, don't challenge the position of Islam” and “Together let's prevent apostasy”.

Nasyid and dikir barat groups entertained the crowd, who also heard recitals of the Quran and Islamic poetry.

Selangor executive councillor Datuk Dr Hasan Ali led the crowd in a prayer to close the event at around 6.15pm.

Among others at the event were Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali, former Perlis Menteri  besar Datuk Sri Shahidan Kasim and Perak Mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria.

Source : TheStar

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak - Malaysia Confident To Achieve 5-6% Economic Growth

Bernama : RAWANG (Oct 8, 2011): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak today said the government is still confident of achieving an economic growth of between five to six percent this year.

"I say at this moment, this is what we think. Of course, if there is a sharp downturn, then it would be a different story. It will affect the whole world without any exception, " he told reporters at a press conference after a meeting with the people session at the SJK (C) Kundang, here today. 

Najib said at present, the country can still achieve the five to six per cent economic growth due to the strong domestic demand and the restructuring of Malaysia's total trade.

Malaysia trade now with Asean and East Asia represents 46 per cent of its total trade, while with Europe it is about nine per cent and the United States, about 10 percent. 

"Given that sort of economic scenario, we are still confident of achieving five to six per cent growth, especially if government projects are implemented according to schedule," he said.

On the deficit, Najib said: "This year we will achieve 5.4 (per cent of Gross Domestic Product ). Next year, we say, it will go down to 4.7 but the total debt we are monitoring and it should be quite comfortable."