Icerd: Public must be educated before ratification can happen - PM

 

The public must have a proper understanding of matters related to human rights before the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd) and other related policies can be ratified, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today.

If not, this would result in an authoritative style of governance which speaks over Malaysians, he said at Suhakam’s 25th anniversary in KL Sentral.

“It’s not an issue of principle, it’s not an issue of commitment, but when the political elite decide to formulate policies or introduce legislation without any consideration of the understanding of the masses, to alert them, to educate them, to initiate discussions, then such an initiative will result in a negative reaction,” he said.

Last month, recently appointed Suhakam chairperson Hishamudin Yunus expressed his hope for the government to ratify Icerd during his tenure.

Malaysia is one of only two Muslim-majority countries in the world that have not ratified Icerd - the other being Brunei.

Better understanding

The UN initiated Icerd in 1965 to deal with global racial intolerance but in Malaysia, it was perceived as a threat to the “social contract”.

The anti-Icerd rally in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 8, 2018

On Nov 23, 2018, the Pakatan Harapan federal government decided against ratifying Icerd. This was followed by an anti-Icerd rally in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 8, attended by about 80,000.

In his speech, Anwar said that bulldozing over people’s concerns contradicts democratic principles.

“You can’t bulldoze without any effort to inculcate better understanding.

“This is the problem we face among the elite, they think they know best, they dictate without any consideration to the feelings, concerns (of the people),” he said.

He also questioned whose narrative universal principles follow.

“There should not be a feeling to maintain or present noble principles that must be defended but which will eventually cause some of us to panic.

“This is especially when we use a view of the universal principles and all that. Whose narrative do universal principles follow?” he asked. - Mkini