SINGAPORE, Nov 15 — Amid backlash by some Malay-Muslims, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad conceded that it is not easy for Malaysia to ratify international human rights conventions such as the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).
The prime minister said he expected Putrajaya’s pledge to ratify them to face some opposition, and the government is ready to hear public feedback on the matter.
“When the issue was raised in my address at the United Nations, I admitted that we would ratify all the international conventions,” he told the press after the 33rd Asean Summit.
“But I also clarified that for Malaysia, this is not easy, because we have a multi-racial, multi-religious society.
“I already know that this will not be received in whole — which means we want to hear the opinions, can we or can we not [ratify]?” he added.
Various legal experts including the Malaysian Bar have repeatedly stressed that the ratification would not in any way alter or affect the country’s Federal Constitution.
Despite this, groups, primarily of Malay-Muslim members, continue to oppose the government’s plan to formalise the convention, arguing that doing so would strip the bumiputra class of their constitutional safeguards and privileges.
Last week, at the Universal Periodic Review of Malaysia’s human rights record in Geneva, Switzerland, Putrajaya affirmed its intentions to accede to international human rights treaties, including the ICERD.
