STATEMENT BY THE HONOURABLE MOHD KHALIL YAAKOB,
MINISTER OF INFORMATION, MALAYSIA at the WCAR
MALAYSIA
STATEMENT BY THE HONOURABLE MOHD KHALIL YAAKOB,
MINISTER OF INFORMATION, MALAYSIA
AT THE WORLD CONFERENCE
AGAINST RACISM, RACIAL
DISCRIMINATION, XENOPHOBIA AND RELATED INTOLERANCE
Madam President,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
At the outset I would like to extend our condolences to President Mbeki and
the people of South Africa on the recent demise of Mr. Govan Mbeki, a true son
of South Africa.
2. On behalf of the people and Government of Malaysia, I wish to convey to you
personally, Madam President, as well as to the Government and people of South
Africa, our sincere appreciation for your efforts in hosting this World Conference,
in this beautiful city of Durban. That this Conference is being held in South
Africa is indeed a fitting tribute to the great achievement and success of the
people of South Africa, who have persevered, in their long and arduous struggle
against apartheid, an achievement which is an inspiration to us all. Malaysians
take pride in their support for the people of South Africa during those dark
days.
Madam President,
3. Racism is abhorrent not only on its own, but as a root of many other more
egregious forms of human rights violations, such as genocide and ethnic cleansing.
Indeed, the history of the promotion and protection of human rights is, to a
large extent, a history of the struggle to eliminate racism. The first human
rights convention was against genocide, the most extreme manifestation of racism.
It is important, therefore, to note that this World Conference is not being
held in a historical vacuum. This Conference constitutes the third attempt by
the international community to banish the scourge of racism. We should seize
this opportunity to adopt a Declaration and Programme of Action that will provide
us all with a clear road map and practical measures to eliminate racism and
related forms of intolerance.
4. In order to advance our cause, the first significant step is to address the
wrongs of the past, particularly the negative consequences of colonialism, slavery
and the slave trade, as well as other extreme forms of racism. We have to come
to terms with the past to enable us to understand the contemporary problems
relating to racism and to better prepare ourselves for the future. Naturally,
in this context, it is a matter of utmost urgency that the perpetrators of these
past injustices acknowledge responsibility and recognise the depth of the wounds
they have left behind. Only then can relations among nations and people, especially
between former colonies and their colonial masters as well as between different
races within one nation, be placed on a sound footing.
Madam President,
5. Since the two earlier Conferences against racism in 1978 and 1983, the scope
of the present Conference against racism has broadened considerably. The advent
of globalisation and the revolution in information technology have given rise
to new challenges in efforts to combat racism. The increasingly borderless world
has intensified the level of intra and interregional migration of people, especially
those in search of better economic opportunities. These people should not end
up as victims of racism. The use of information and communication technology,
such as the Internet, to not only incite social hatred but also facilitate the
organisation of such acts, also needs to be appropriately addressed. It is therefore
important that the two documents of the Durban Conference adequately address
these new challenges.
6. Given the interdependence of the world today, the search for global solutions
for problems such as racism must be undertaken through concerted international
action. Undoubtedly, the effective implementation of commitments made by members
of the international community at various international forums will go a long
way in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
Madam President,
7. Malaysia believes that at the national level, Governments could and should
exert greater efforts to combat racism within their midst. We share the sentiment
of the Secretary General of the United Nations that every country draw up and
implement its own national plan to combat racism. Malaysia has always been committed
to eradicating racism. In our multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious
society, the development of a united Malaysia is uppermost in the list of the
Government's priorities. Today, Malaysians live in a climate characterised by
peace, harmony and mutual respect. We are able to enjoy the fruits of development
and progress, thanks, in no small measure, to the appropriate and effective
strategies developed and implemented by the Government, with the participation
of all segments of the population, regardless of race or colour, and achieved
through consensus building. We believe that anywhere in the world, inclusiveness
lies at the heart of any government's efforts to eradicate racism.
8. The key to inclusiveness is the inculcation of a spirit of mutual respect
and care for humanity, which is genuine and not academic in nature, practical
and permeates the entire strata of society. From the early years of independence,
the Malaysian Government has recognised that building a nation out of a diverse
community, demands much more than just forging consensus on the basic character
of a state or nation. It requires the sharing of historical
experiences, values and a sense of common destiny, which transcends racial differences.
9. It should be noted that lifelong education nurtured through daily INI
interaction is as important as formal education in the formation of attitudes.
Due ,; attention has thus to be given to this aspect. However, education alone
is not
sufficient in efforts to combat racism. Recognising that inequitable development
among the races is one of the main reasons for racial tension, the Malaysian
Government has implemented socio-economic policies that promote the equitable
participation of all races in the economic development of the country.
Madam President,
10. Victims of racism, especially whose sufferings are longstanding, are looking
at this Conference to address their concerns. In this connection, Malaysia believes
that one of the issues that Conference has to specifically address is the plight
of the Palestinian people. The Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories
for over half a century is clearly more than a political conflict. The measures
that the Israeli Government continues to take in the name of security, has reached
dangerous and untenable proportions, amounting to an indiscriminate policy of
collective punishment and domination over the entire Palestinian population.
11. During the course of negotiations on this issue, arguments were put forward
to the effect that the inclusion of the plight of the Palestinian people in
the documents of this Conference is unnecessarily provocative and will not facilitate
the process of finding durable peace in West Asia, and that the issue is best
taken up in other forums. Malaysia cannot subscribe to this argument. Indeed,
the Conference would be doing a grave injustice not only to the Palestinian
people, but also to its own history, as there are explicit references to this
issue in the previous two Conferences against racism. Given the gravity of the
situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, Malaysia urges the international
community to assume its responsibilities to end the conflict and ensure the
restoration of the right to life, liberty and selfdetermination of the Palestinian
people.
Madam President,
Distinguished Delegates,
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