Saifuddin pledges to push for ratification of six international human rights conventions

Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah delivers his speech at Wisma Putra on Monday. -Bernama

PUTRAJAYA: Newly minted Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah pledged to push for the ratification of six international human rights conventions.

"As stated in our (Pakatan Harapan) manifesto, we aspire to sign all the international human rights conventions.There are nine conventions, of which we have only ratified three," he told reporters after taking office in Wisma Putra after the swearing-in ceremony at Istana Negara earlier on Monday (July 2).

Besides the nation playing a more effective role in promoting human rights, Saifuddin said that it was also his personal goal to see Malaysia be a part of the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal 2030.

He assured that there would be no major shift in the nation's foreign policy principles.

"We will continue with our current policy of being friendly to all nations with Asean being our priority," he said.

He added that his ministry would be guided on principles of inclusiveness, good governance, freedom, human rights and sustainable development.

Saifuddin said that he would spend the next two weeks being briefed on issues relevant to his ministry before making any announcement.

On calls on the Government to pressure India to scrap the price hikes of tourist visas for Malaysians, Saifuddin said his officers were looking into the matter.

Malaysia has ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

The nation has yet to be a signatory to the International Convention Against All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and Punishment.

Also yet to be ratified are the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, International Convention on the Protection of Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, as well as the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.