Anti-Icerd rally a setback for govt, says Kit Siang

PETALING JAYA: The anti-Icerd (International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination) rally was a setback for Pakatan Harapan, although it was a victory for New Malaysia, said DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang.

“The organisers of the anti-Icerd rally came to destroy and not to create a New Malaysia.

“I said it was a setback for Pakatan to build a New Malaysia because the rally would not have happened if the Pakatan government had han- dled the Icerd issue better,” he said in his blog yesterday.

A rally took place on Saturday to celebrate the government’s decision not to ratify the United Nations (UN) convention. The government’s move came about amid claims that the UN’s human rights agreement would jeopardise the special rights of Malays and bumiputras.

Lim said the rally was a demonstration that the government would always respect the right of the people to speak and assemble peaceful- ly as long as it followed the provisions of the law and the Federal Constitution.

However, he said as the country was a plural society, it was of utmost importance that the unity and harmony of its diverse races, languages, cultures and religions remained the paramount goal of the nation.

“For this reason, Malaysia should not ratify Icerd until the majority of the races and religions in Malaysia are comfortable with it, support it and understand that it poses no threat to the various races, religions or the Federal Constitution but a step forward to join the world in promoting human rights,” he said.

Lim also said that the government should not have allowed the anti-Icerd organisers to “hijack, twist, distort” the Icerd debate with “toxic politics”.

“This is a lesson the government must learn quickly or both Pakatan and the great vision of a New Malaysia will be destroyed,” he said.

Umno’s Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said the rally could have been more meaningful if it was joined by other Malaysians from different races and beliefs.

“Malaysia is a diverse country. It is more meaningful if we are united together as Malaysians,” he said, adding that he did not believe that Icerd contradicted the Constitution and that it could be implemented in Malaysia any time soon.

“I think the reason some are against Icerd is because they are not ready to compete against others.”