He once again reminded critics of the plan to sign the UN International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination that it would not nullify Article 153 of the Federal Constitution.
“Ratification of ICERD to make Malaysia’s human rights record respected by the world is in accordance with the ruling Pakatan Harapan’s general election manifesto,” said the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.
The senator said several Muslim nations — Yemen, Indonesia, Pakistan and Kuwait — had since ratified ICERD.
He said stakeholders would be consulted first.
“The government is not rushing to ratify ICERD as it wants to gather as much feedback as possible.
“I humbly request all parties issuing statements on the matter to research the issue in detail before spewing out half-truths and lies about it,” the minister, in charge of national unity and social wellbeing, said.
Article 153, which gives preference to the Bumiputeras, is said to go against Article 2.2 of ICERD, which states any measures taken for the development or protection of a particular racial group, as in the current practice for the Malays, shall cease after due course.
Waythamoorthy previously told FMT that this does not contravene Article 153 as positive discrimination, or affirmative action, cannot be wholly considered as discrimination.
ICERD states that parties are obliged “when the circumstances so warrant” to use positive discrimination policies for racial groups previously suffering from discrimination to guarantee “the full and equal enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms”.
The treaty has been formulated to bridge inequalities in fields like employment, education and pay around the world.
Waythamoorthy has also said PH is committed to ratifying all United Nations conventions relating to human rights.
Before this, Malaysia ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women; the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Recently, some 100 people representing several Malay-Muslim organisations protested outside Parliament, urging the government not to sign the treaty.
Malaysia is one of the remaining few countries which have not signed or ratified the convention.
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has said Malaysia will eventually sign ICERD.