Mat Sabu: Ratifying ICERD requires change to Constitution

KOTA BARU: A daunting task awaits if Malaysia ratifies the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).

Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Mohamad Sabu said an amendment to the Federal Constitution was required if the country decided to proceed with ICERD ratification.

Mohamad, who is defence minister, said matters involving the implementation of a new policy must first go through amendment to the Federal Constitution, which requires votes from twothirds of the 222 members of parliament.

Taking into consideration this process, he assured Malays that their privileges and the status of Islam in the Federal Constitution would not be undermined or easily amended.

“We respect the decision by the United Nations on ICERD’s ratification, but for Malaysia to ratify the human rights convention, we need to go through the process of amending the Federal Constitution.

“To me, the matter has been exploited (by certain quarters) for politics,” he said after launching the state-level Amanah convention here yesterday.

Present were Amanah vicepresident Datuk Husam Musa and state party chairman Wan Rahim Wan Abdullah.

Mohamad said the party’s membership, especially in Kelantan, had increased since Pakatan Harapan’s victory in the 14th General Election, adding that there were 8,000 new members in the past four months.

“This can be seen as a motivator to other states (to increase their membership).

“The main factor behind the increase in the party’s membership is Amanah’s political standing.

“We work with other political parties, which comprise members of other races and background, to form and govern the federal administration,” he said.