Mohamad Hasan: Don't ratify ICERD, 'positive discrimination' needed in multiracial Malaysia

SEREMBAN: Malaysia should not ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) as "positive discrimination" helps to reduce inequality among races, says Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan (pic).

He said in line with Vision 2020, Malaysia should be managed and developed based on its own needs and its own uniqueness.

"Multiracial Malaysia is already among the most successful in managing its diversity, although I must say it is not yet perfect.

"Even the Prime Minister had in an interview with The Washington Post in 2002, said that we should not be in a situation where the demands of the minority can cause problems to the majority," he said in a statement.

Mohamad said in multiracial Malaysia, "positive" discrimination, which has been institutionalised in the Federal Constitution, was not racist in nature but was purely to reduce inequality among the races.

"This has helped create peace, harmony and well-being of the people in modern Malaysia," he said.

Mohamad said the ICERD doctrine formulated in 1969 was designed by foreigners and did not suit the Malaysian social fabric.

"ICERD was designed by a few influential western countries based on their own doctrines.

"Interestingly, 12 years before it came into being, the three biggest races in the then Malaya had proven to the world that a multiracial nation with many religions can be created if there was consensus and understanding," he said.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department P. Waytha Moorthy said last week that Malaysia would ratify ICERD and five other treaties as early as the first quarter of next year.

The ICERD is a UN convention which commits its members to the elimination of racial discrimination and the promotion of understanding among all races.

On Thursday (Nov 1), Dr Mahathir said Malaysia will only ratify ICERD after consulting all races in the country.

Mohamad said ratifying ICERD will adversely affect the positions of institutions involved in carrying out social interventions such as Mara, UiTM and the special provision on Malay reserve land.

He said these instruments were necessary to help the Malays who still lagged compared to other races in the country.- Star