Countries that did not ratify ICERD also do not have GST

Some argue that Malaysia must not be like North Korea, Myanmar and South Sudan — countries that have NOT ratified the ICERD. But then Malaysia is already like Korea, Myanmar and South Sudan in abolishing the GST/VAT.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

(The Star) – Former Sungai Benut MP Mohamed Tawfik Ismail today questioned the need for both PAS and Umno to rally against the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) as “Malay rights are already protected”, as reported by the news portal Free Malaysia Today.

“It is pointless to hold the rally. I do not think they have anything to fight for. Their rights are already preserved. It does not make any difference to the rights of the Malays if ICERD is ratified.

“They should not rally. What are you rallying for, unless you are having a motorcycle rally?” he reportedly said.

Tawfik, who is the son of late deputy prime minister Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, disagreed with the decision, saying that it is “wrong” to do so.

“The government needs to discuss with the stakeholders, and take the politics out of it.

“It is disappointing it has not been ratified. You cannot really put yourself in the same position as North Korea and Myanmar. Why should we be associated with them? (We should) lump ourselves with the Middle Eastern countries supporting ICERD,” he said.

Malaysia is one of 14 countries in the world that has yet to ratify ICERD, alongside the likes of North Korea, Myanmar and South Sudan (countries that also do not have GST/VAT).