PUTRAJAYA will not be giving up on Malay and Bumiputera rights by ratifying the United Nations’ International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa also warned against spreading such a message, which he said could cause racial tensions in the country.

“It is my duty to explain that our decision to ratify ICERD will not have any impact on what’s protected under the federal constitution,” said the Parit Buntar MP in a press conference in Parliament today.

He was referring to messages being spread on social media warning that Malay rights and Bumiputera privileges would be taken away after the government had ratified the UN convention.

Umno Youth chief Dr Asyraf Wajdi also urged the people to object to this ratification as it would run contrary to protections accorded under Article 153 of the federal constitution.

The article touches on, among others, the special position of the Malays and Bumiputera, and the legitimate interests of other communities.

However, Mujahid, who is in charge of religious affairs, today invited Asyraf for a meeting so that he can be given a clear picture of the situation.

Last week, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department P. Waythamoorthy said the government was committed to ratifying six treaties, including ICERD, in the first quarter of next year.

The minister in charge of national unity and social wellbeing said ratifying ICERD was a way to boost the country’s human rights record, in line with Pakatan Harapan’s general election manifesto.

Waythamoorthy assured that the government would engage all stakeholders to get feedback on ICERD.

“The government is not rushing to ratify ICERD as it wants to gather as much feedback as possible,” he said while dispelling speculation that ratifying the convention was intended to challenge or abolish Article 153.

Following this, Muslim women rights group Sisters in Islam (SIS) defended the ratification of ICERD as it does not threaten the sovereignty of Islam.

SIS said as most of the Muslims countries of the world have ratified ICERD, it shows that the convention does not affect the religion’s sovereignty. – October 29, 2018.