Ex-diplomat calls for Rome Statute counter-narrative against royals, ‘ignorant Malays’

Desmond Davidson Desmond Davidson Updated 7 years ago · Published on 7 Apr 2019 3:29PM · 7 Comments

G25 spokesperson Noor Farida Mohd Ariffin says the Barisan Nasional government was ready to ratify the Rome Statute but the then foreign minister did not sign it. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, April 7, 2019

FORMER ambassador Noor Farida Mohd Ariffin, who had helped Wisma Putra prepare the instrument of accession to the Rome Statute, said Putrajaya failed to have a plan to answer the “totally ridiculous” claims of those against Malaysia signing the international treaty.

The spokesperson for the Muslim moderates’ group, G25, said the Pakatan Harapan government should have done more to properly inform the rulers and “ignorant Malays” about the statute that governs the International Criminal Court.

Noor Farida, who once served as director-general at the Research, Treaties and International Law Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the Barisan Nasional administration, said Pakatan Harapan has caved in to the campaign by opposition politicians, and Islamists and right wing Malay groups because Putrajaya has no plan to counter their narrative.

“They had no communication plan to inform and educate the rulers and the Malays,” she told The Malaysian Insight.

Noor Farida was asked to comment on the government’s announcement Friday that it would withdraw from ratifying the treaty, which it acceded to last month.

She sounded upset as she spoke to The Malaysian Insight by phone, saying, “upset is putting it mildly, I’m very, very disappointed”.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had blamed “political confusion” caused by those with political agendas, pinpointing a member of the royalty without naming the person.

Noor Farida said the Barisan Nasional administration had approved ratification of the statute.

She had helped prepare the paper for the accession in March 2011 and the cabinet had agreed to the ratification after reading it.

However, she said the statute was never ratified because the then foreign minister Anifah Aman did not sign the instrument of accession that was supposed to be lodged with the UN Secretary-General.

Noor Farida said she does not know of the reason why Anifah did not sign it. 

She added ratification of the treaty will not affect the position of the country’s constitutional monarch, in the “unlikely event our soldiers commit mass killings or the country commits aggression”.

She said even though the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the supreme commander of the armed forces, he is shielded by virtue of being a nominal head as a constitutional monarch, with no executive powers.

“The Agong does not give direct commands to them (the army) and he gets his advice from the prime minister. (And) I don’t think our Agong will ever order our armed forces to commit mass killings.”

Noor Farida said the claims and arguments of those against the Rome Statute were “totally ridiculous” to begin with.

“How can they say it is against Islam? Is Islam against the four core international crimes – genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression – that the Rome Statute was established to tackle?

“Is joining the rest of the world to say, ‘we are also against genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression’ against the royalty and the Malays?”

Noor Farida, who is one of G25’s pioneer members, said such claims about the Rome Statute was akin to saying that the Malays, Muslims, Islam and the royalty are supportive of war crimes and genocide.

“They are ridiculing Islam and totally misinterpreting the Quran by saying Islam supports mass killings.”

The opposition, are politicising the whole issue just to “work up the ignorant Malays” on race and religion so as to topple the present government, she added.

Noor Farida urged Putrajaya to “overcome its fears” of losing Malay support and to launch an information blitz on the importance of international treaties.

“I hope when the furore dies down, they then go on the information blitz. Counter the opposition’s narrative. If the Malays are duped, explain it to them.

“Go to the rulers. Get the support of the Conference of Rulers.

“The government needs a good communication plan as it needs to get them (royalty) all behind the ratification.

She also believed “nothing will happen” if Putrajaya had stood its ground and on its decision to ratify the statute.

“I hope they give it a rethink.” – April 7, 2019

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Comments

  • Tell it to the Johor Crown Prince.

    Posted 7 years ago by Luke Skywalker · Reply

  • It is not that they are against The Rome Stature but agaiinst Mahathir and PH government ! No arguement will enter their brainless head.

    Posted 7 years ago by Masfaliza masmuda · Reply

  • One wonders why the Malays are so easily misled, even the son of a state's ruler claims the Rome Statute affects the position of the Rulers when it is clearly not the case.

    Posted 7 years ago by Panchen Low · Reply

  • It just showed how stupid all those people who are against the Rome Statute.

    Posted 7 years ago by Jordan Lee · Reply

  • How can they say it is against Islam? Is Islam against the four core international crimes genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression that the Rome Statute was established to tackle?

    Indirectly, we are endorsing Israel's treatment of Palestinians. The irony though, is, even with this Statute, such war crimes, genocides are still happening.

    Posted 7 years ago by Billy rave · Reply

  • This is just an excuse by some to get at Tun.

    Posted 7 years ago by Lipdah Lia · Reply

  • Yes the Government should have communicated appropriately but really, are we to also understand that the Johor Prince failed to understand what the Rome Statute is all about? The statute so obviously has nothing to do with Islam, Malay rights or the monarchy and is baffles how it could be interpreted as being a bad thing.

    Posted 7 years ago by Sunita petrus · Reply