ICERD issue needs more than politics to resolve

TWO of the most recent commentaries on the dangerously escalating International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) ratification controversy have argued that it is necessary for the government to make known its position on the issue

According to the Sik-Bisik Awang Selamat column of Utusan Malaysia those who oppose ratification have a valid concern in that it will challenge the Federal Constitution which affects the special rights of the Malays, the bumiputras and the Malay rulers. The column noted that the issue will continue to divide the nation as long as the government drags its feet and does not come out with a clear and definitive decision. The Utusan writers also point out that if the politicians cannot take a firm stance on the issue, how can they expect to convince the populace?

The second commentary by Dr Musa Mohd Nordin and Dr Awaluddin Mohamed Shaharoun makes the point that Umno-PAS politicians are using the issue to create instability in their efforts to topple the Pakatan government. They also provide a necessary reminder to the public that PAS president, Hadi Awang, in an Utusan Melayu report dated Sept 15, 1985, then in his capacity as Terengganu state commissioner, “pledged to abolish Malay rights if PAS came into power”. More specifically, he added that these include “the removal of Malay Reserve Land, National Economic Policy or other policies which only serve the Malay interest. PAS promised that all races would be equitably treated”.

Although diametrically opposed in their support of the political parties, both sets of commentators seem to agree in assigning the primary responsibility for resolving the controversy to the political leaders of Pakatan and Barisan.

A politically-driven top down authoritarian approach to managing this controversy now has taken place with the announcement from the Prime Minister’s Office that the Pakatan government has decided against ratifying the ICERD.

According to the PMO statement, “The government will continue to defend the Federal Constitution, in which lies the social contract agreed to by representatives of all races during the forming of the nation.”

While this clearly hasty and apparently panicky decision may have the effect of dousing the inflamed sentiments and views of some members of the public, it is at best a temporary band-aid or cooling agent.

What has happened is that the ICERD issue and the question of ratification – for better or for worse – has become and will remain a cause celebre which will continue to generate widespread controversy, fierce campaigning by opposed groups and heated public debate.

To ensure that the ICERD ratification issue is not further hijacked by political parties and politicians for their own agenda, a final government position needs to be made which takes into account the views of all stakeholders and the larger citizenry.

We propose the following process of examination and analysis to take place: The main objections expressed against ratification relate to concerns about how the international treaty will adversely affect the special position of the Malays, the other bumiputras, the Malay rulers, the Malay language, etc.

In addition, the latest statement by PMO brings in a related but new issue of the “social contract” agreed to by the various communities at the time of independence which the ICERD ratification apparently will conflict with.

All major stakeholders – apart from political parties – should review the provisions of the ICERD and determine how the country’s act of ratification will exactly impact on each of their positions as well as on the so-called “social contract”.

In particular, each major stakeholder identified by critics of the ICERD as having their position or rights or interests adversely affected by the treaty ratification – the Rulers Council, Jakim and other Islamic bodies, social, cultural, language, academic, and other bumiputra bodies and organisations should take the opportunity to give priority to this exercise and communicate their findings and conclusions to the public and the government. In this way, they can either refute or confirm the concerns made by others on their behalf.

Silence from non-partisan and nonpolitically aligned key stakeholders will not serve the nation well as we are all aware that fear and insecurity are being fanned and manipulated by the anti-ICERD faction.

Finally, we note that the best way of responding to those who claim to represent or speak up on behalf of the Malays is to remind them of the wisdom of our past leaders in building the nation.

One of the most influential leaders of our recent history, Tun Dr Ismail, has explained that