CALLS of conservatives to reject the ratification of ICERD (International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination) in Malaysia appear to be deafeningly loud.

Rejecting an effort that aims to eliminate racial discrimination? Foreigners interested in the latest news about Malaysia must be either perplexed or amused.

Plus, Malaysia is in the exclusive club formed by 14 remaining countries in the world that have yet to sign ICERD. Some “prominent” members of the club include Myanmar, North Korea, and South Sudan.   

Umno and PAS, who are supposed to be nemeses, have now found a common goal to work towards hand-in-hand for their political survival. After all, fanning racial sentiment is their only specialty.  

Clearly, these political parties, particularly Umno, which was once the biggest party in the previous government, did not learn from the lesson of Barisan Nasional’s downfall.

However, some politicians who are now members of the new government also appear to be worried about the consequences of ratifying ICERD, or more specifically, backlash from the conservatives.

Ratifying ICERD is an important symbolic act

Many voters chose Pakatan Harapan as their new government during GE15 because it was seen as a reformist party. It was ready to reform our corrupt institutions and, by showing moral authority, gradually change our distorted societal culture that has been plaguing the country for six decades.

Since racial discrimination is so entrenched in our politics, eliminating it definitely requires time and immense effort so that our ingrained mindset and perspectives can change.

Therefore, ratifying ICERD is exactly the first step that the government should take. This will be a symbolic act that demonstrates to Malaysians and the world that our country is determined to move towards better equality.

However, if the politicians who once labelled themselves as reformists dare not symbolically recognise the importance of eliminating racial discrimination, would it be an act of betrayal to the voters who opted for reform-minded politicians to govern our country?  

A symbolic political act will influence the thinking and mindset of society in the long run. Succumbing to ultra-conservatives, who do not wish equality to be eventually realised, will certainly be a huge setback to the leap of progress that our country has made so far.

Also, if the new government does not even intend to symbolically recognise equality, how will the conservatives react when the government intends to implement real and substantial reforms in the future?

Predictably, the backlash would be much stronger, the government stuck in limbo.

In the end, the new government will eventually lose the moral authority to govern this multiracial and multicultural country, as people do not put their trust in it anymore, just like what had happened to BN months ago.

Reformists will face backlash

Any real and genuine reform will affect the vested interests of at least some individuals or groups. To think that reforms can be implemented smoothly with everyone’s support and cheers is just like building castles in the air.    

Therefore, politicians or even corporate leaders implementing reforms will certainly face backlash because the status quo is being shaken. The affected individuals or groups will try to resist the reforms and possibly challenge the reformists by any means necessary to retain their interests and positions.

After fighting so hard to take down the old and decadent government, this is the next battle that our reformists should commit themselves into.

When the conservatives are pulling out all the stops to block any genuine effort towards improving equality, the new government must make its stand clear.

Otherwise, the enthusiasm and expectations that many people have towards the new government would slowly fade away. That would be the adverse political consequence in the long run that our “reformists” will have to take.   

In my opinion, civil society’s open support on ratifying ICERD is also essential, as its stand can be effective in educating the public that equality is not a zero-sum game. Its unbiased opinions will in turn strengthen the government’s resolve to ratify ICERD as a symbolic gesture of making racial equality a long-term goal.    

Our new Malaysia is at a crossroads. Do we have the audacity to go against the tide? – November 17, 2018.

* Ho Chi Yang reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.