THE Gerakan Anti Rumah Anutan Haram (GERAM) a.k.a. Anti-Illegal Houses of Worship Movement is firming up its legal taskforce to both strengthen its advocacy and more importantly, to defend activists and complainants who fight for the cause from threats, intimidation and potential police arrest.
This is vital as GERAM which boasts the backing of controversial Muslim convert preacher Zamri Vinoth as its chief coordinator gears up for tomorrow evening’s (Feb 7) potentially provocative rally which ultimate aim is to open the eyes of the authorities and Malaysians at large on proliferation of illegal houses of worship.
Some 141 NGOs are expected to participate in the rally which is scheduled to begin at 8pm in the vicinity of SOGO Kuala Lumpur to ensure that laws against encroachment and illegal construction of houses of worship are enforced.
“God willing, the first briefing and crash course will be held this Friday (Feb 6) in preparation for the Saturday evening’s gathering (Feb 7),” penned Zamri in a recent Facebook post. “Together we will eradicate illegal temples.”
Reiterating that the matter has no racial and religious bearing but one of upholding the law, the known to be staunch follower of controversial preacher Dr Zakir Naik said lawyers regardless of background, race or religion are welcome to assist in:
👮♂️ Objecting remand orders, defence & mitigating arguments
⚖️ Manage legal action & fact-based advocacy
📄 Document/evidence review & legal compliance
📢 Coordinating complaints + follow-up with authorities
🛡️ Defending activists & complainants from intimidation/baseless actions
As it is, it is almost ‘all systems go’ for tomorrow’s GERAM rally judging from the reaction of Dang Wangi District Police Chief Asst Commissioner Sazalee Adam who only warned the organisers against making provocative statements or fanning 3R (race, religion and royal institutions) sentiments.
Counter strike
This follows a meeting with six representatives of the rally organiser at the Dang Wangi District Police Headquarters (IPD) yesterday (Feb 5).
In an official request dated Feb 1 to the Dang Wangi IPD’s OCPD (officer in-charge of police district), Zamri Vinoth in his capacity as GERAM’s coordinator has pledged that tomorrow’s rally shall abide by the existing Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 in that the organiser will ensure that all participants behave in an orderly manner.
As Zamri presses ahead with tomorrow’s showdown, Hindu politicians and activists have chosen a more peaceful path by making a last-ditch attempt to foil tomorrow’s rally by lodging nationwide police reports.
The latest is perhaps by Senator Dr Lingeshwaran R. Arunasalam in his capacity as the Penang Hindu Endowment Board’s deputy chairman who led a group of Hindu NGO representatives to lodge police reports against Zamri Vinoth and his intention to forge ahead with tomorrow’s rally.
They are the Malaysia Hindu Sangam Penang; the Malaysia Hindu Mamandram Penang; the Penang Hindu Association; the Penang Hindu Sabah; and the Otrumayin Karangal Welfare Association.
“Each Hindu organisation in Penang has also lodged a separate police report as a sign of strong protest against the (GERAM) gathering,” penned the DAP-backed Dewan Negara member on his Facebook page.
“This action proves that the Penang Hindu community is united and stands firm in rejecting any efforts that attempt to incite religious hatred and divide the harmony of the people.”
They joined Jelutong MP R.S.N. Rayer who had earlier lodged a police report at the Dang Wangi IPD to deny the necessary police approval against the GERAM rally from taking place.
“I’m making this police report because I’m worried that this rally, if allowed, would cause racial and religious tensions, disrupt the peace and public harmony,” contended the DAP lawmaker.
“I believe if this rally by Zamri Vinoth is allowed, it would contribute to racial disunity as Zamri has a tendency to spark off racial tensions between one race and the other as he had previously done.”
“I would like to appeal to the police to not allow Zamri Vinoth from having this rally on Feb 7 from 8pm to 11pm in front of Sogo for the sake of peace and well-being of this nation.”
Speaking at a media conference in Parliament yesterday (Feb 5), Rayer had also questioned why no action has been taken against controversial preacher despite at least 894 police reports having lodged against him. – Feb 6, 2026
