Speaking to a crowd of about 100 people during PAS’s first roadshow in support of the planned gathering, Tuan Ibrahim said he had instructed the party to cancel all its programmes on that day so that its members could participate in the peaceful gathering.
“Attend the gathering either as a participant or a volunteer. We want as many youngsters as possible to take part.”
Tuan Ibrahim also expressed confidence that the gathering will serve as a stepping stone to all future rallies in the country.
He said that peace and hygiene must be maintained at the end of the rally, saying: “I urge everyone to bring their plastic bags because we don’t want a dirty venue at the end of the gathering”.
“This is our gathering and I want this to be the most peaceful gathering by PAS.”
Himpunan 355 aims to gather some 300,000 people in Dataran Merdeka to show support for PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s private member’s Bill on stiffer shariah punishments.
However, Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor had said earlier that Dataran Merdeka is off-limits, instead proposing the Stadium Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur.
Tuan Ibrahim, however, sounded persistent when he said PAS would still try to negotiate with Tengku Adnan on using Dataran Merdeka as the venue.
“We will wait for his official answer and we will respond. Then, we will meet with all the relevant authorities so that it will be a peaceful and harmonious gathering.”
“If it’s possible, we would prefer to hold the gathering at Dataran Merdeka. We will keep on trying.”
At present, shariah punishment is capped at a three-year prison term, RM5,000 fine and six strokes of the cane.
Hadi’s proposed amendments will see a maximum jail sentence of 30 years, RM100,000 fine and 100 strokes of the cane.