20,000 expected at gathering to empower Malays in Bukit Jalil on Saturday: MPM

PUTRAJAYA: Approximately 20,000 people are expected to attend the Gathering of Gerakan Perpaduan Melayu Mahawangsa to empower Malays at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur this Saturday.
The gathering is an initiative of the Malay Consultative Council (MPM) with the cooperation from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit (TERAJU) and the National Civic Bureau (BTN).
MPM secretary-general Datuk Dr Hasan Mad said the gathering, which is the first in its series, was organised with the aim to build solidarity and find strength to continue upholding and empowering the Malay community.
Among the issues to be raised during the gathering are the economic issues and the extent of compliance of the Malay development agenda based on Maqasid Syariah (Islamic law).
"This gathering has nothing to do with politics and racism.
"However, any non-Malay politicians or individuals are welcome to attend the gathering and be our friends," he told a press conference here today.
Hasan said the gathering would be similar to the initiative taken by Malay non-governmental organisations at the Sultan Sulaiman Club in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur in March 1946, which led to Umno's establishment two months later. – Bernama