Is there apartheid in Malaysia, asks activist over 'non-Malay' PM row

 

Malaysians, regardless of race or religion, can dream of becoming prime minister since there is only one form of citizenship, according to human rights activist Jerald Joseph.

“If you are a Malaysian, you are a Malaysian. We have different cultural identities, and that is fine. But there’s only one form of citizenship.

“If there are two forms of citizenship, it begs the question if there is apartheid in Malaysia,” he added.

Speaking at a forum in Kuala Lumpur today, the former Suhakam commissioner said there is no such thing as a “lesser Malaysian”.

“Every country has its own majority group. India has a Hindu majority, Malaysia is a majority-Muslim country, and so on. But does it give them the right to bypass universality and respect of human rights for all?

“Because the notion of human rights is the duty and obligation for the right of all lies in the hands of the government. It is immaterial if you belong to the majority religion or culture in the country,” he added.

Joseph, who is also the director of Pusat Komas, warned that having the majority cultural group determine a country’s course comes with the risk of sliding into fascism.

Apart from becoming the prime minister, he said all Malaysians could also become the leaders of government-linked companies, the armed forces chief, or the inspector-general of police.

Joseph was one of the panelists at a human rights forum titled Universality for All in Malaysia: It’s Time Now” co-organised by NGO Pusat Komas and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner (South East Asia Regional Office).

The forum was held in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Recently, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang came under fire from pro-Malay groups and politicians after raising the possibility of a non-Malay being appointed as the prime minister. Lim has also been summoned by the police over this.

Disservice to the Palestinian cause

Meanwhile, Joseph also urged those at the forum to call out Malaysians who protested against the ratification of the Rome Statute in 2019.

He said the protesters had done a disservice to the Palestinian cause as Malaysia now has no legal standing to drag Israel to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“I think we have shot ourselves in the foot because the people who protested in support of Palestine today are the same people who protested against the Rome Statute (in 2019).

“Ironically, this group was also in The Hague a few weeks ago wanting to submit a letter to the ICC to take action.

“How come you protest here and go to The Hague to ask to take action? We have to call these people out for doing a disservice to the Palestinian cause,” he said. - Mkini