Ahmad Maslan taunted Education Minister Maszlee Malik today, saying that yesterday's mammoth rally against the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd) should be included in History textbooks.

Ahmad, who served as a deputy minister under the previous BN administration, took to Twitter to claim that the rally was "the largest assembly in the country's history."

"The largest people's assembly in history. Minister Maszlee can include this in the history books. Yes," tweeted the Pontian MP.

The dig is believed to be in reference to Maszlee saying last week that the multi-billion ringgit 1MDB scandal will be recorded as part of Malaysian history.

"I can give you my assurance that the 1MDB issue will be included in Malaysian history so that the future generations will not repeat it.

"So will the serious crimes committed by politicians in the robbery (of the nation's wealth)," he had said.

The minister said this in response to Ahmad in the Dewan Rakyat, after the latter stated that past mistakes are bound to be repeated if they are not taught as part of history.

Many had taken this to mean that the topics would be included in the History syllabus, which was later refuted by Maszlee's aide.

Yesterday's rally, while not the largest in Malaysian history, saw tens of thousands gather in Dataran Merdeka to celebrate Putrajaya's decision not to ratify Icerd.

Malaysiakini estimated that 80,000 people attended the rally at its peak. Police put the number at 55,000, while Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi ventured 500,000.

In 2012, Bersih 3, which was also held in Dataran Merdeka, attracted an estimated 250,000 people.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had first mooted the idea of ratifying Icerd at the United Nations’ General Assembly in September, stating that Malaysia would accede to the remaining human rights conventions.

In the weeks leading up to yesterday's demonstration, many had protested the plan, citing fears it would jeopardise the constitutional safeguards for Malays and Islam, despite the government's assurances otherwise.

This led to the Putrajaya reversing its position on ratifying Icerd. 

However, organisers insisted the rally would proceed as planned, albeit as a celebration of the government's decision.