KUALA LUMPUR : Umno Youth has described the government's possible move to ratify the International Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) as a step closer towards the abolishment of the Malay and Bumiputera special rights as well as the royal institution.
UMNO Youth exco, Datuk Dr Najmil Faiz Mohd Aris, said ICERD's ratification has caused anxiety and much distress among the Malays and other Bumiputera as they are worried that their special rights will be taken away.
"ICERD's definition and scope of discrimintion is wide ranging encompassing all forms of discrimination in the country which include special rights, political and legal rights which will be abolished.
"Article 153 of the Federal Constitution as well as related issues such as Malay, Sabah and Sarawak special rights will also be abolished," he said in a statement today.
Najmil Faiz said ICERD will undermine all nation building efforts undertaken all this while ever since the country's independence in 1957.
He said ICERD's ratification will render the Federal Constitution and social contract agreement forged between the Malay, Indians and Chinese leaders who fought for independence in 1957 to become meaningless.
"ICERD lobbyists have long pushed for Malaysia to ratify the convention ever since the formation of Barisan Nasional (BN). But at the time BN did not entertain ICER's demands which was deemed detrimental to the country.
He added the government must do a consensus on the matter especially among the Malays as they are the majority race in the country.
"I worry that if the government proceed with the ratification of the ICERD without prior consultation with non-govermental organisations and bumiputera leaders, it will trigger dissatisfaction and provocation among the bumiputera."
