THE International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on March 21. Proclaiming the day in 1966, the United Nations General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.
Global Human Rights Federation (GHRF) is urging the unity government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his administration to combat issues pertaining to racism, fanaticism, extremism, discrimination, double standard law enforcement, supremacist policies and religious persecutions.
As Malaysia being part of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the term of 2022–2024, being elected on Oct 15, 2021, I would like to remind that Malaysia is obliged to uphold the 30 articles as enshrined under United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 (UDHR). UDHR is a milestone document, which proclaims the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
Article 1 – All humans are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
Article 2 – Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this declaration without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
Article 7 – All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
Too many racist acts lately
Political leaders are more often playing the racial and religious card to the hilt for their political mileage. They are using it indiscriminately these days without any regard to the damage it would be causing to the country’s social fabric.
Racism is at its peak now and people are being blunt about it without any remorse. Racist attacks against non-Malays and non-Muslims have been escalating at a worrying level. If you had noticed, the words “penumpang” and “pendatang” are being used rampantly.
And due to the authorities’ lackadaisical attitude in stemming the problem, racist talk has been “normalised”.
What does Malaysia’s federal constitution say?
I would like to also point out that Article 8 of the federal constitution spells out equal rights for its citizens, a right that is very important to prevent discrimination and injustice to Malaysians:
– That all persons are equal before the law and are entitled to equal protection of the law.
– That there shall be no discrimination against citizens on the ground only of religion, race, descent, place of birth or gender in any law.
Implement racial and religious hate act
Hence, GHRF has handed a memorandum to the Prime Minister’s Office on March 10, urging the unity government to implement a Racial & Religious Hate Act, which would allow those making any statement deemed as hate speech directed at a particular race or religion to be prosecuted.
This must be undertaken if indeed the formation of the unity government is serious in preserving the unity, harmony and peace of all fellow Malaysians. “If you don’t nip the problem in the bud, Malaysia is going to have serious problems in the future,” and it would be too late and uncontrollable as we can see now itself on the massive attack of racial and religious slurs.
I would like to raise my disappointment towards the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia for failing to address rising racial and religious intolerance in the country despite having powers to do so.
GHRF’s objective is to uphold the Malaysian constitution, principles of Rukun Negara, parliamentary democracy, rule of law, equality, exercising the 30 articles as enshrined by UDHR 1948. This is to maintain racial unity and create a united, peaceful, harmonious and prosperous society. – The Vibes, March 21, 2023
S. Shashi Kumar is president of Global Human Rights Federation (GHRF)
