PUTRAJAYA’S backpedalling on its decision to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) conveys the message that the government condones racial discrimination, a 2018 report on racial discrimination by human rights group Pusat Komas said.

To correct this, the Pakatan Harapan government must come up with a clear narrative to counter growing racial discrimination.

“Even though the government made a decision not to sign and ratify the ICERD, efforts to dismantle the misconceptions of the international convention need to be worked on.

“Putrajaya should also reconsider its decision, as Malaysia is viewed as the bastion of the multicultural experience,” the report said.

Pusat Komas also reminded the government that it should move away from race-based policies and urged it to implement policies and programmes that unite the nation and create an inclusive society.

“To address the growing issue of racism, collective efforts are needed and the new government must uphold its ultimate promise to rebuild this nation.

“It should also continue to engage with civil groups, academics, the media and other sector to look at ways to tackle racism,” it added.

In its report, Pusat Komas also recommended the imposition of “heavy legal and formal sanctions” on ministers, senior officers, representatives, individuals, politicians and social media groups exhibiting racist and discriminatory tendencies in speech and action.

The ICERD is a United Nations convention that condemns discrimination and calls upon states to pursue a policy of eliminating racial discrimination in all its forms.

In September last year, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad told the UN General Assembly that Malaysia would ratify all six human rights conventions it has yet to adopt, including the measure against racial discrimination.

However, in November, Putrajaya said it would not ratify the ICERD as it would require a two-thirds majority in Parliament to amend the federal constitution.

Its announcement did not stop tens of thousands of Malay-rights activists and politicians from gathering for a massive rally at Dataran Merdeka in December. – March 21, 2019.