Pakatan did a botched job of selling ICERD

Chan Kok Leong Chan Kok Leong Updated 5 years ago · Published on 27 Nov 2018 7:00AM · 5 Comments

Lawyers for Liberty executive director Latheefa Koya says it is regrettable that the government caved in to PAS and Umno on ICERD. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, November 27, 2018.

PAKATAN Harapan should seize the narrative on an anti-racial discrimination accord and not let Umno and PAS set the agenda, a forum heard yesterday.

“I would like the Pakatan MPs to re-look into the ICERD (International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination) issue. They may not be able to ratify it now (after it has been politicised) but let the ICERD issue be seen as wrong,” said Lawyers for Liberty executive director Latheefa Koya.

The question of ratifying ICERD had been raised by the previous administration but neither Umno nor PAS opposed it then, she said.

It is regrettable that the government decided to backtrack on its intention to ratify ICERD after threats made by Umno but it should not allow the Malay party to dictate the narrative, she said.

It is also time for Malaysians to get the right information about ICERD.

“We should not be like frogs under a coconut husk and shudder whenever someone says ‘ICERD’,” said Latheefa during a forum at the KL Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall last night.

Earlier, panellist Faisal Abdul Aziz from Abim said the government had erred over the handling of ICERD.

“It should have held more forums like this to explain the issues to everyone instead of allowing the facts to be twisted.

“This will go down as the government’s failure to explain to the public how ratifying ICERD does not contradict the constitution,” said Faisal.

Faisal Abdul Aziz accuses the government of doing a poor job of explaining to the public how ratifying ICERD does not contradict the constitution. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, November 27, 2018.

The issue has been politicised by Umno and PAS as they need a strong issue to galvanise support for themselves, he said.

“Umno and PAS thinks that with ICERD it can win another 15% of the Malay vote so that it can come back to power in the next general election.”

ICERD about race, not religion

Universiti Malaya law lecturer Dr Azmi Sharom said the treaty is meant to eradicate racial discrimination and would not affect religious rights.

“Take marriage, for instance. Article 5(iv) of ICERD gives the right to marriage and choice of spouse based on race, not religion or sexual preference.

“Malaysia has a distinction on marriage according to religion. A Malay-Muslim cannot marry a Chinese or Indian, not because of their race but because of their religion and this has nothing to do with ICERD,” said Azmi.

Universiti Malaya law lecturer Dr Azmi Sharom says ICERD does not threaten religious rights. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, November 27, 2018.

Islamic groups opposed to ICERD see Article 5 as approval for same-sex marriage. 

But Azmi said Article 2 of the convention allowed for affirmative action where necessary.

“This concept is consistent with Article 153 of the federal constitution that says that the king shall exercise his function to grant certain quotas to Malays and Bumiputeras where necessary and reasonable while protecting the rights of other communities.”

Ikram council member Zaid Kamaruddin, meanwhile, had a tough time fielding questions about how ICERD threatened Islam in Malaysia.

When asked by Bar member Andrew Khoo on where the contradictions were, he could not answer but said it was better to defer the ratification if it raised tensions in the country.

“ICERD is not against the teachings of Islam but if the outcome could cause tension, the government needs to hold more consultations first and act as an arbiter,” said Zaid.

The forum, organised by Saudara, was moderated by Ustaz Wan Ji Wan Hussin and is the second public forum since the issue erupted. – November 27, 2018.

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Comments

  • I am still at a loss to find that illusive statement in the Koran that tells me that ICERD is against Islamic teaching. I have read without understanding the Koran since childhood days in Arabic, later the English translation from a few authors while my Chinese spouse reads and discusses the Chinese translation frequently after her suboh prayers, yet I am still searching. In an earlier comment, I did mention the need for us Muslims to be educated in this topic before I blindly follow this matter which has become so serious that the UMNO president questioned someone in PH's Islamic status. Please help.

    Posted 5 years ago by Shaikh karim · Reply

  • The bigots said other religions cannot be equated with Islam. This is good enough reason for Hadi to reject ICERD. But then nobody rebutted him. Tun diagnosed wrongly, hence the medicine did not work.

    Posted 5 years ago by Jacob Hong · Reply

  • So, the majority of Muslims have a misunderstanding of Islam. How did this misunderstanding begin? How has this misunderstanding being so easily permeable in the community? The root cause is none but the type of education they receive from home, places of worship and schools.

    The Ministry of Education must seriously look into the causes.

    Posted 5 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Pakatan has done a good litmus test of the reactions from the rakyat. Pakatan has succeeded waking up the masses and shown how a noble religion can be made used of by unscrupulous politicians. These politicians are still living today and much alive to want to carry on their agenda.

    Posted 5 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Lets admit the fact sincerely and truthfully on the cause for the non comprehension or soley, just not to understand the ICERD falls on the 3Rs doctrination that has set up from Umno since those days until now. If Umno were to still rule the country and PH is the opposition, it will also become a political tool for PH or even PAS to use it and topple UmnoBN. Why so the crab mentality of pulling each other down ......Well !!!!! when the calling of the Bangsar dan Agama comes, no consideration in the needs to fully comprehend the gist or the importance in the needs to fulfil the ethical reqirements. Back up by the false beliefs of "Ketuanan" , it is "all system go" to repeal anything that touches the sensitivity of their self made empirical pillars defining their rights on both Agama and Bangsar.The scene will be repeated on new reform Umno if they do return to rule the country. Inorder to get bigger support and drawing the nons with reforms antagonising the deeply entrenched doctrination of 3Rs, they will face back the same phenomena of resistance as the sword they have wielded are sharp at both edges. Until a new young generation starting from early teen schooling with a change in the medium of instructions and abolish religious studies in schools curriculum will only a modern competitive race be realised. Stop kidding ourselves in the same old same old of talks, discussions , analysis of academician in their expounding views throwing in bits of spices but never at the heart of matters to reslove. Why ??? because hiddden in the heart of the Malay race they are not ready to let go that doctrinations that have held them in bondage not because of enthusisasm or familiarity but the suspicious fear of incompetence.Only a leader that do not view by communal ideology and the sincerity for the love of a country and its people will we see the chang. When ?????

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply