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Why ratifying human rights accord is issue in Malaysia

Opponents fear loss of special status for Malays if ratification were to go ahead

More than 1,000 people marching from Masjid Jamek to Kompleks Sogo in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday in a protest against the ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) called by the youth w
More than 1,000 people marching from Masjid Jamek to Kompleks Sogo in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday in a protest against the ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) called by the youth wings of Umno and Parti Islam SeMalaysia. PHOTO: BERNAMA
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A convention to end racial discrimination is stoking anger in Malaysia.

But fears that the ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd) could have adverse consequences may be ill-founded.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 08, 2018, with the headline Why ratifying human rights accord is issue in Malaysia. Subscribe