MALAYS SHOULD BE WARY – EVEN IF ICERD A BOON FOR THEM, UMNO WILL PAINT IT BLACK: ‘ICERD ISSUE IS THE START OF UMNO’S REVIVAL, WE HAVE FOUND A MEETING POINT WITH PAS’ – PARTY STALWARTS

UMNO has found its second wind in Malay-Muslim protests against an international human rights treaty that it fears will threaten the special position of Malays and Islam in the country.

By standing against the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) and Putrajaya’s initial plan to ratify it, the former ruling party can show that it is still relevant to Malays, said Umno Youth exco member Bastien Onn.

“The ICERD issue was a turning point. It has shown that Umno is consistent and it is still the umbrella for all Malays  … that we have returned to our original struggle which is for the Malays, for Islam and for the country,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Bastien said anger at Putrajaya’s intention to ratify the treaty came at a time when Umno is trying to find its direction after losing the 14th general election in May.

It also lost six MPs who quit the party, seen its leaders charged with corruption and money-laundering, is short of funds and some 60% of its branches are in danger of being deregistered after failing to hold annual general meetings.

It is also adjusting to its new role as the opposition, a task it has never performed, having ruled for six decades.

Selangor Umno Youth chief Rizam Ismail agreed that the timing of sentiments against ICERD couldn’t be better for the party. It has united Malays who feel their special position under the federal constitution is under threat, he said.

ICERD has given PAS and Umno a common goal to work on, forming a formidable opposition bloc. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Afif Abd Halim, November 27, 2018.

It began in late October when Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department P. Waytha Moorthy said the Pakatan Harapan government was committed to ratifying remaining international human rights treaties, including ICERD, in the first quarter of next year.

His announcement led to protests by Umno Youth, PAS Youth and various Malay rights groups.

The main contention is that ratification will affect special privileges and affirmative action policies that benefit the Malays.

Legal and human rights advocates, however, have said ICERD will not affect these provisions which are enshrined in the constitution.

ICERD does allow for affirmative action policies but calls for them to be temporary in nature.

PAS and Umno Youth leaders led a rally to protest against the signing of the treaty in Kuala Lumpur from Masjid Jamek to the Sogo shopping centre on November 4.

Several demonstrations were also held in other states, while a gathering of more than 5,000 saw national-level PAS and Umno leaders join hands over the issue at the Himpunan Perpaduan Ummah in Pasir Salak, Perak on November 17.

Another mega-rally has been called at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur on December 8, even though Putrajaya said last week it will no longer ratify the treaty.

At the same time, police have said that around 150 reports have been lodged in relation to ICERD.

Rizam, who is also Selangor opposition leader, said it was significant that the country’s two largest Malay-Muslim parties had joined forces.

He said their combined strength was enough to rattle the PH government, which finally agreed to put off ratification of the treaty.

Umno members say ICERD shows that the party’s struggle is still relevant. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, November 27, 2018.

“The ICERD issue is the start of Umno’s revival. Umno and PAS have found a meeting point.  

“It is a sign to PH that when the two biggest Malay-Muslim parties join forces, the PH government cannot do as it pleases if it affects the rights of the Malays as protected in the social contract,” Rizam said, referring to what historians describe as the understanding between Malaysia’s founding fathers on concessions made by the different ethnic groups in order for non-Malays to be granted citizenship at Merdeka.

But Rizal added that ICERD alone was not enough for Umno to regain the people’s support. Umno must also improve its weaknesses and directly address people’s concerns, such as the rising cost of living.

“Umno needs to restructure its own house, improve what is broken and regain the trust of non-Malays. As the opposition now, we have to be relevant to all people,” said the Sg Air Tawar assemblyman.

Kuala Selangor Umno Youth information chief Hanapi Mohd Ali echoed his party colleague, saying the ICERD issue had energised the party after being under constant attack by the new government over corruption charges against its leaders and frozen party accounts.

“We should no longer be disappointed with our GE14 loss. The people need Umno and ICERD is just the beginning.” 

THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT