Red Shirts reps to deliver speeches at UN headquarters

Representatives from the Malaysia Red Movement Coalition, popularly known as Red Shirts, are expected to deliver their speeches on human rights and poverty at the United Nations headquarters in New York next month.

The non-governmental organisation had previously sparked controversies and often gained attention during the BN administration with protests led by its leader Jamal Md Yunos.

The new head, Baharin Mohd Tahir (above), said Jamal had resigned from the post on Jan 25.

The group is now focusing on advocating human rights in the country which was its original intention, he added.

Baharin said the movement was invited by the International Service for Human Rights and Amnesty International on Aug 23 for its programme called "Human Rights Council Elections 2019: Discussions of Candidate States' Visions", in conjunction with the election for the 2020-2022 term.

"There are two events, one on Sept 6, and the other is at Palais Des Nations in Geneva on Sept 11. We will speak at the Sept 6 event," he told Malaysiakini when met in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Baharin will be joined by another member, Noridzahlan Ridzuan, who is also the president of Malaysia Abata Blue United Organisation.

The three topics at the event are on human rights in Malaysia as a moderate Islamic country, sovereignty and the federal constitution, and poverty.

Jamal Md Yunos

Baharin said he will also address the wrong perception on the poverty rate as claimed by a UN representative in Kuala Lumpur recently.

UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights Philip Alston had insistedthat the country's poverty rate was closer to 15 percent (937,500 households) rather than the official figure 0.4 percent (in 2016). 

“In reality, Malaysia seems to have a poverty rate which is close to that of most other countries, and that is something like 15 percent [...] there is very significant poverty,” Alston said.

Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali had responded by saying that Alston's remarks were "wholly unacceptable and irresponsible." 

Asked to comment on the Red Shirts' bad reputation as they will now speak at an international event, Noridzahlan said it is not an issue.

"When BN was in power, many of Harapan leaders represented NGOs to speak at the international events. Now that they have become the government, it's our turn to do so. It sort of balances.

"If you talk about reputation, Harapan also had a good reputation. Now the people's perspective has totally changed after they failed to fulfil their promises.

"(Former premier) Najib Abdul Razak's reputation was also tarnished after the general election. Now you can see he is getting staunch supporters," he said.  - Mkini