This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on November 1, 2018

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will only ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) after consulting with all races, said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“We will sign [the convention] after we have discussed with all races in Malaysia. I have said this before that it (ratification of ICERD) is no easy matter for Malaysia where there are many ethnicities that are sensitive when it comes to certain matters,” he told reporters after launching the National Policy on Industry 4.0 here yesterday.

The premier criticised those Malays who did not improve themselves and yet expressed concern about the erosion of Malay supremacy or ‘ketuanan Melayu’ if the convention is ratified by the government.

“I want to tell the Malays that there is no point talking about ‘ketuanan Melayu’ if you remain working as a coolie for others.

“You want to be a tuan (chief)? You can, but you need to have knowledge, be hardworking, be good, and not cheat or steal. Do not follow the example of the previous prime minister,” he added, referring to Datuk Seri Najib Razak who has been charged with 38 counts of graft and money laundering relating to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd financial scandal.

ICERD is one of several United Nations conventions that serve to guide national human rights instruments.

It is understood that Malaysia has already signed three such conventions namely the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Including ICERD, it has pledged to ratify six other treaties. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department P Waytha Moorthy said on Oct 24 that the government has committed to ratify them by the first quarter of 2019.

On Oct 29, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mujahid Yusof Rawa said Malaysia can ratify ICERD with reservations, ie to ratify the convention while still adhering to existing laws and provisions under the Federal Constitution — such as the rights of the bumiputera.