KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will become a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCR) only if it is beneficial to the nation, said Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin (pic).
"The Government has taken note of the IPPR.
"However, a detailed study is needed to determine (if we can) allow the laws to be ratified in line the ICCPR and if there are any returns or benefit for the country by becoming a signatory," he said when replying a question by Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali in Parliament Tuesday.
Dr Mohd Khairuddin, while admitting that the Coalition of Malaysian NGOs' (Comango) demands with regard to freedom of religion was a sensitive issue, said there were positive aspects related to political freedom and democracy.
Earlier, Hamzah said the ICCPR was one of the nine international instruments on humans rights that Malaysia was striving fulfill.
"However, the are some items in the ICCPR, particularly on religion, which can cause discomfort among the races.
"As such, at the end of the day, we need to be able to live in peace, and with the races enjoying equality before we sign it," he said.
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