No rush to ratify ICERD

Updated 7 years ago · Published on 14 Nov 2018 4:31PM · 5 Comments

NEW Malaysia has other, more pressing matters to look into and solve.

A few WhatsApp groups that I am in are really wasting time discussing this International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) issue. They say it is good for New Malaysia. Now, the prime minister says ratification is only after negotiations with all races.

ICERD is a third-generation human rights instrument under the United Nations convention. As of January 2018, it has 88 signatories and 179 parties.

Some people are of the view that ratifying a convention is a symbolic gesture and doesn’t matter. Do we need to follow the 179 countries that have ratified it then?

Remember the goods and services tax. Since about 160 countries have implemented GST, we too wanted it. It was said that the implementation was timely and has proven to be the saviour of Malaysia’s economy. It was debated for 26 years!

What happened next? Consumer confidence dropped; inflation shot up, and protests were organised. The saviour of Malaysia’s economy even had a hand in the ouster of the previous regime. Even the United States does not have GST, saying it is regressive where a greater proportion is borne by people with lower incomes.

Furthermore, Malaysia’s cultural and racial mix and history is unique in its own right. There is no one-size-fits-all solution.

Take democracy for example. It is supposed to be the best system in the world. It places the right level of faith in humanity, gives us the autonomy to choose who rules us, and respects our rights of freedom and equality.

But look at the US election in 2016 that elected Donald Trump. Populism is now posing new challenges to modern democracy.

How about western pundits, particularly those in the US, who assumed that allowing China into the global economic or trading system would lead it to adopt Western democracy?

However, China rejects liberal democracy because it is inconsistent with its history and institutions. In its more than 5,000-year history, China has never experienced democracy, which means it would require time to make a smooth transition. China will soon be the world’s leading economic and geopolitical power and what are the global implications for the future of democracy? President Xi Jinping’s thought is “socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era”.

Do not forget the failure of democratisation in Russia.

I can understand the need for the minister to bring up this matter up as the prime minister is now training his guns on the performances of ministers.  

Wouldn’t it be better to focus on strengthening national unity and harmony based on the federal constitution and Rukun Negara, which happens to be the mission statement of the National Unity and Integration Department? Programmes to promote understanding and harmony among people of various religions and conducting unity discourse and ethnic relations study would be more effective and meaningful after the damage done by some parties.

Just like how China requires more time to make a smooth transition to democracy, Malaysia does not need to rush to sign all the treaties on human rights by the first quarter of next year.

Mr Minister, if I may suggest, the best place to start unity programmes would be in the Dewan Rakyat itself.

What say you? – November 14, 2018.

* Saleh Mohammed reads The Malaysian Insight.

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Comments

  • 61 years is not long enough to sign and ratify ICERD? The reluctance only proves that as a nation we have failed because our unity and tolerance is purely superficial and without substance. Just because Umno and Pas Malays are objecting to ICERD, the assumption is that it is bad for the country. So I assume racism and discrimination is good for the country? No wonder we will remain as a Third World backwater for another 60 years.

    Posted 7 years ago by Gerard Lourdesamy · Reply

  • First off, I would like to remark on Malaysian politicians.Unlike other developed countries, only a handful of our politicians were millionaires BEFORE entering politics. Those are the ones who are truly willing to help the country even to the extent of give up lucrative incomes. Many others are more often FAILURES in the private sector, even bankrupts, and enter politics as a "skim cepat kaya" (through eg, "donations" and "side incomes"). They enter poor and leave as multi-millionaires (or even billionaires). So they are more more interested in looking out for their own selves rather than put themselves in the services of the country. So they prefer the ruling government rather than the opposition. It is no coincidentsce we are seeing instances or "katak" quitting the opposition. The latest example may be Mr. Boxing.

    Posted 7 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

    • ....... continue .....

      However, those already in the government would like to preserve their positions. They became yesmen and utter populists sentiments fashionable at the moment. They would never go against the tide even if its the right thing to do. An example is the silence of BN MPs during the 1MDB scandal.

      We are now seeing it happening in PH. We are just barely 6 months after GE14 yet from the comments of some "low class" PH politicians, especially from PPBM and Amanah, it looks like they are eyeing for re-election rather than working for those who elected them. Are they having the country at their heart or the top priority are their own selfish selves?

      ----- to be continued .....

      Posted 7 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

    • ....... continue ....

      Of all the Asean countries, only three are NOT signatories to ICERD. One, a repressive monarchy, the second, a country with an abysmal human rights record and third our own RACIST Malaysia. Even Timor Leste is a signatory!

      In less than ten years, India is projected to be the third largest economy in the world, overtaking Japan. So the three largest economies in the world, in no particular order, will be US, China and India.

      For a small country like Malaysia to develop, we need FDI, especially having a screwed up education system producing more idiots than geniuses. But we are competing with the rest of Asean if not the world.

      All the signatories countries in Asean have Chinese and Indians among their population and they are trying to leverage on a common heritage and language to attract FDI from China and soon India. But a common feature is they do NOT have institutionalized discrimination against Chinese and Indians. They DON'T have article 153! Since Malaysian Chinese and Indians are discriminated against, wouldn't "foreign" Chinese and Indians feel even more insecure? They would avoid Malaysia like the plague.

      (Forget about new FDI from the US. With an insular government, lower tax rate than ours, higher productivity and efficiency eg. they DON'T take time off for prayers, etc, its a monumental task for us to attract them)

      Even our own Malaysians realize its futile to invest here. Would Grab and Broadcom (controlled by Malaysian born) achieved their world beating success if the companies are domiciled here?

      We cannot rely on oil and gas forever. They are depleting resources, the world is turning to renewable energy as fuel (as can seen from the plunging prices). Eventually they are only good enough as feedstock for making plastics.

      High tech? As I said earlier, we produce more idiots than geniuses. Oil palm? Come on, we are in the 21 century!

      In conclusion, If we don't change, we will end up a FAILED nation!

      Posted 7 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

  • Rushing is to move forward and to walk tall. Why no rush?

    Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply