The decision by the US and several other Western countries to boycott the UN Durban Review conference on racism and discrimination is a wrong and bad move. Boycotts have long been proven to be counter-productive strategies whatever the targeted issues and the motives or rationalization behind them and they should be a last rather than a first choice option.

In this particular case, the fear that the meeting may become another high profile forum for attacking Israel is clearly overrated as well as not justified. There are - and will continue to be - other high-level meetings and fora that will focus on condemnation of Israel's policy towards the Palestinians and its gross violation of human rights.

Until Israel reverses its policy of aggression and domination against Palestine and Israeli Arabs, it will draw scrutiny and condemnation from the rest of the world - whether within or outside UN meetings.

The other major justification voiced by Germany for its decision to join the boycott - that ‘this conference could be abused by others as a platform for their interests' is ludicrous to say the least. All countries - without exception - bring their own agendas and interests to international meetings.

In fact, the premature pullout by Germany is to be regretted, especially since Germany has played a lead role in various international anti-racism initiatives due to its horrific legacy of anti- Semitism. History has shown that there is no substitute for dialogue and discourse even on the most complex and divisive of issues and amongst the most bitterly opposed enemies.

It is a decision that will badly mar Germany's otherwise recent exemplary record on raising public consciousness on racism.

For us in Malaysia, there has been little press coverage of this landmark conference. No official pronouncement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry or from Wisma Putra on Malaysia's participation in it or on the country's position on the Western boycott appears to have been issued.

Given the paucity of official and local media coverage on the conference (is an ‘unofficial' news blackout in effect?) the question is are we participating in the meeting or are we also joining the Western boycott? If we are not taking part in the meeting, the public is entitled to know what the reasons are and to scrutinise the reasons for the ‘boycott'.

If we are taking part, the paper on the country's official position on racism as well as the official text of our contributions on the other issues being discussed at the meeting will be of much interest to all Malaysians.

There are several compelling reasons why it is vital that we take an active part in this historic UN meeting - only the second one during the past decade. Firstly, there is a growing problem of racism and intolerance all over the world, not least in our own country. How can this negative trend be corrected? Apart from speaking out on ways to combat global racism and associated religious hatred and intolerance, what is Malaysia doing in terms of reducing racism and intolerance in our own country?

Are we practicing what we preach or are we engaged in the kind of double standards and hypocrisy which we decry when we perceive it as practiced in other countries. Is Malaysia truly committed to combating racism and intolerance in our own backyard, and if so, what is the evidence?

Secondly, it is expected that several Muslim nations will want the meeting to discuss curbs to free speech and to ban all criticism of Islam, Sharia law, the Prophet Muhammad and other tenets of the Islamic faith. If they are successful, it is likely that these issues will feature prominently in the final declaration.

What is the position of Malaysia on the general issue of incitement of religious hatred and how does the country propose to draw the line on curbing it - not only in relation to Islam but also on all religions - whilst ensuring that our freedom of expression is not unduly compromised or sacrificed?

Finally, the first UN meeting held in South Africa in 2001 also focused on related issues such as protection of minority rights, racism against indigenous peoples, gender and racial discrimination, and migration and discrimination. These aspects of racism and intolerance will undoubtedly be revisited in this second conference. What is our record on these forms of xenophobia and related racial intolerance?

Will Malaysia stand up to the glare of international opinion or will we stay away from the global discussion and attempt to ignore or conceal the reality of what is taking place in Malaysia on these basic human rights?

Although Malaysia has yet to sign and ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and to abide by international standards ensuring protection against religious, racial or other forms of discrimination (the ICCP also covers four other major areas of human rights), it would be a big mistake for Malaysia to use this as a justification for missing out on the conference.

As noted by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the conference opening, racism is one of the most pressing issues facing humanity.‘Racism is a denial of human rights, pure and simple, and may be institutionalised, as the Holocaust will always remind us,' Ban told attendees.

‘Ultimately it may express itself less formally, as the hatred of a particular people, or a class, as anti-Semitism, for example, or the newer [phenomenon] Islamophobia.'

Our staying away from it will not only prevent us from engaging in critical self reflection of our own record on racism, religious intolerance and discrimination but it will also diminish our capacity to learn from the rest of the world, thus ultimately hurting ourselves.

The writer is director, Centre for Policy Initiatives .