Article 153 of the Federal Constitution, which outlines special provisions for the bumiputera, will not be affected should the government sign the UN's International Convention Eliminating Racial Discrimination ( Icerd ), Suhakam commissioner Jerald Joseph said today.

Joseph said this is because Article 153 also states that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong must look after all Malaysians.

Clause 1 of Article 153 reads: "It shall be the responsibility of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to safeguard the special position of the Malays and natives of any of the states of Sabah and Sarawak and the legitimate interests of other communities in accordance with the provisions of this article."

Speaking at the 8th national conference on non-discrimination organised by NGO Pusat Komas in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Joseph said: "The legitimacy of other communities is in the same sentence, so there is no multiple choice here. You can't look after one and not the other."

He was responding to Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin, who last week asked Parliament how signing the Icerd would affect Article 153.

Joseph said he was disappointed with Khairy, adding that Khairy should be providing solutions, not trying to put people on the spot.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has pledged to sign all remaining UN rights conventions that Malaysia has yet to do so.