Malaysias racial policies slammed at UN meet

comments     Michelle Lee     Published     Updated

A Malaysian delegate at a United Nations human rights meeting has urged the government to ratify the UN Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Jerald Joseph of human rights organisation Suaram told the 58th Session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) yesterday that by signing the convention, Malaysia would then have to amend or nullify any laws and regulations which have the effect of creating or perpetuating racial discrimination.

He lamented the lack of action taken by the government in last years Kampung Medan clashes which saw six people killed and hundreds injured when fights broke out between the Malay and Indian communities in Selangors Petaling Jaya.

The government promised to come up with a parliamentary report but to this day, neither news of the report nor the investigation has been made public, said Joseph at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

He also lambasted Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) for failing to conduct an inquiry into the racial clashes to bring justice to the victims.

Joseph went on to reproof the contract system of government tenders for its lack of transparency and for being heavily monopolised by the Malay business people, much to the disadvantage of others.

It must be noted however that the true beneficiaries of these policies are the rich and politically connected Malay elite, he added.

Ethnic disparities

Other instances of discrimination which he raised concerned the cancellation by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia of the Chinese Cultural Societys exhibition at the very last minute without valid reasons, and the lack of support given to ethnic vernacular schools.

Joseph agreed that certain social contracts have been drawn up to address ethnic disparities in the country.

He said the affirmative action was introduced to restructure society to correct the economic imbalances of wealth holding which led to the identification of race with economic function.

But this should not be an excuse to continue the practices that divide the community even more... [and] having cultural dances and symbolic ceremonial events [banned] do not do much to alter the ingrained practices of a society classified by ethnic differentiation

Sub-Commission Special Rapportuer Marc Bossuyt said that affirmative action measures must have limits and must be time bound. This time frame was to expire in 1990 but instead has continued in different forms, added Joseph.

Malaysian delegates

This years 58th session of the UNCHR in Geneva began on March 18 and will conclude on April 22. The commission is made up of some 50 countries and meets annually to review the human rights records of member nations.

Other Malaysian delegates to the commission include Bahirah Tajul Aris, wife of Keadilan leader Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor who is presently held under Internal Security Act, and former ISA detainee and student leader Khairul Anuar.

Also part of the delegation is Mabel Au, fiancee of Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua, who is also held under ISA, which allows detention without trial.



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