THERE needs to be wider engagement and dissemination of correct information if the government resumes plans to accede to the Rome Statute governing the International Criminal Court, civil society leaders said today.

Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim) secretary-general Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz said extensive engagement should also be held with the Malay rulers and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“So long that the conference of rulers are consulted widely and in a proper way… it can at least alleviate certain concerns from the general public,” he said at a forum on the International Criminal Court organised by the Malaysian Bar Council today.

Faisal also said there is a need to re-strategise engagement with the legislative, executive and judiciary.

ICC counsel and member of the Malaysian Bar, N. Sivananthan, said public dissemination of information as to what being a state party to the treaty actually involves is important. 

To reach the masses, Sivananthan said it is important to first reach key individuals of various communities and religions.

“For the masses to understand, you need the key individuals to first understand what the ICC is all about,” he said. 

He said there was too much misinformation about what the treaty is all about, which eventually led to Putrajaya backtracking from ratifying it.  

Some quarters did not even have a thorough understanding on what the ICC was and were against it without valid reasons, he added.

“You need to restart (the dialogue) and say this has nothing to do with politics… this is something to do with Malaysia (instead),” he added. 

Ratifying the Rome Statute concerns Malaysia’s position in the world community and has nothing to do with religion, race or culture, he said.

“If that is understood, then we can go forward. As long as people think it has something to do with religion, race, or the monarchy, it will always be a problem,” he said. 

Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (MCCHR) chief human rights strategist Firdaus Husni said the dissemination of information can be more targeted now that it is known which are the parties opposing the treaty. 

In April, Malaysia withdrew its instrument of accession to the Rome Statute following outcry from mostly Malay groups and opposition parties Umno and PAS which claimed it would undermine the sovereignty of the Malay rulers.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that Putrajaya would not ratify the Rome Statute due to “political confusion” surrounding the issue. – August 27, 2019.