Participants of an anti-ICERD rally in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 4, 2018 - Bernama
PETALING JAYA: The Pakatan Harapan government will not ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), says the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
The Government will instead continue to defend the Federal Constitution which contains a social contract that has been agreed by all races during the formation of the country, the PMO said in a two-paragraph media statement on Friday (Nov 23).
The ICERD is a United Nations convention which commits its members to the elimination of racial discrimination and the promotion of understanding among all races.
Several parties have vocally opposed ICERD, saying that it contravened the Federal Constitution, particularly Article 153, which touches on the special rights of the Malays and the bumiputra community in the country.
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