WHAT is this ICERD which is being debated throughout the country? It is a United Nation convention on the elimination of racial discrimination of which Malaysia is not a signatory.
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A total of 175 countries have signed the convention and 16, including Malaysia, North Korea and Angola, have not.
This convention commits its members to the elimination of racial discrimination and to promote equality and unity., which mean to say, elimination of distinction,exclusion,restriction and preferences based on color,race,decent and nationality.
Why then, Malaysia with its multiracial, multilingual and multi-religious population is refusing to or delaying the signing of this convention? This convention is pertinent to Malaysia, which is respected all over the world for its moderate policies.
Mustafa Akyol, an award-winning author on contemporary Muslim issues, said Muslim groups who oppose ICERD, should study the policies of past Islamic powers including the Ottoman Empire in regards to equality.
Mustafa also reportedly said Malaysians who oppose the ICERD on Islamic grounds should read the Ottoman constitution of 1876.
“I would recommend that all those in Malaysia who oppose the ICERD on Islamic grounds read the Ottoman constitution of 1876. It reads: ‘All subject of the empire are called Ottoman, without distinction whatever faith they profess.’”
He also reportedly said any advantageous status granted by the state is not beneficial to any group, as it makes them lazy and unwilling to work hard to and use their full potential.
Now, shall we ask some soul searching questions? Have we as a nation matured for the last 60 years, or it was a hyped-up illusion we were made to believe that we were united by politicians?
Some leaders are saying that violence may occur if Malaysia were to ratify ICERD. Does that mean that we are still primitive in our minds and hearts?
Can we then continue expressing our thoughts or lecture others on justice and fair play? We may lose our international standing and we will have no right to lecture Myanmar on the atrocities done to the Rohingya or on the Palestinian conflict.
We will lose our credibility to express our thoughts on discrimination, religious or political, in any part of the world.
We should not let politicians exploit ICERD to garner support. If we as a nation want to stand and shine, Malaysians must change their primitive mindset.
We cannot call a kettle back or throw stones at glass windows. Malaysia’s international image will be affected if the signing is delayed any further.
In this globalised, borderless world, our mindsets must adapt to the ever-changing realities, failing which, we shall perish. – November 17, 2018.
* K. Tamil Maran 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.
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Comments
Posted 7 years ago by Julian Nagelsmann · Reply
Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply
The treaty has been around since the 60s. Among the ratified countries are Zimbabwe, Israel, Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia before the ethnic cleansing of the Bosnian. A lot of good this treaty did.
Please, its a 6 month old new government taking over from a 60 year old one. Let it breathe. For once it is a formal policy that NEP will be on a needs based. That is much more progress than a useless treaty which allows for all kinds of qualifications. Is it worth all the fuss and divisive bickering?
Civil society needs to pull their heads out of their high horsed silos more often. Look at the long term rather than stupid rhetorics which divide rather than unite.
Posted 7 years ago by Shaikh saleem · Reply
Posted 7 years ago by Antares Maitreya · Reply