Suhakam says Nazri’s statements clearly intended to incite racial hatred and discontent for the purpose of winning votes in the Semenyih by-election.
Facts about:
- Question of appointing non-Malays for top government positions – there is no law that dictates that these positions must be occupied by a Malay
- Claim that Adib’s death had gone unpunished – the inquest is ongoing; the law must be allowed to complete its course before any punishment can be meted
- Narrative that Malays will be stripped of their privileges, they cannot get fair treatment and justice from non-Muslims – Malay rights are guaranteed by the Constitution
- Nazri’s outdated views – show the need to ratify Icerd
Malaysia Baharu should no longer tolerate racist views and those who perpetuate it, the Human Right Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) said today.
Suhakam said this in response to Barisan Nasional secretary-general Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz’s recent statement questioning the appointment of non-Malays for top government positions.
Suhakam chairman Tan Sri Razali Ismail said employment into the civil service should take into account competency for any appointment.
“These statements were clearly intended to incite racial hatred and discontent for the purpose of winning votes in the Semenyih by-election. 
“There is no law that dictates that these positions must be occupied by a Malay. It is the sole discretion and judgement of the duly elected government to appoint those who will best fulfil these roles for the sake of all Malaysians, and not just Malays alone,” said Razali in a statement, today.
During a speech in Beranang, Semenyih last Saturday, Nazri had questioned the appointment of non-Muslims as the attorney general (AG), chief justice and finance minister.
The Barisan Nasional secretary-general had earlier today defended his statement and said if the A-G was not a Bumiputera, there was bound to be impartiality, citing the case involving deceased fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim as an example.
“Nazri’s claims that the death of Adib had gone unpunished due to the fact that the attorney-general was not a Malay are extremely offensive.
“Attorney-General Tommy Thomas had ordered the inquest into Adib’s death in accordance with Section 339 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code and had rejected an interim motion to stay the inquest pending the March 4 hearing as his death is a matter of public interest.
“The law must be allowed to complete its course before any punishment can be meted,” he said.
Razali said racism cannot be tolerated in “New Malaysia”.
“Suhakam recognises the special position of the Malays for affirmative action as embedded in the Federal Constitution.
“However, the protection of this position is not in opposition with the aforementioned appointments of non-Malays,” he said.
Razali said such remarks by a senior politician showed the need to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd).
He added that Putrajaya must look into ratifying United Nation’s anti-discrimination convention so that “outdated views” such as those made by Nazri can be stopped.
“In light of these remarks by a senior politician, Suhakam reiterates the call for the ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd) to prevent and eradicate all manifestations and practices of racial, religious and national hatred,” Razali said.
Razali also said there was no law that dictated that the positions of the chief justice, attorney-general and finance minister must be occupied by a Malay.
He said it was the discretion and judgment of the duly elected government to appoint those who will best fulfil these roles.
“Outdated views on racism can no longer be tolerated in Malaysia Baru, where employment – particularly into the civil service – must take into account primarily competency for any appointment,” said Razali.
Putrajaya had originally planned to ratify Icerd but pulled back following protests from Malay groups, which said ratifying the treaty would negate the special position of Malays and Islam.
Some Malay supremacist groups believe making other races and religions equal to Malays and Islam will destroy the privileges Malay, the monarchy and Islam.
Nazri’s claim that the death of Adib had gone unpunished due to the fact that the attorney-general was not a Malay was also not factual – the four individuals referred by Nazri were never charged.
Instead, police were probing the four for assaulting Adib, only to reclassify investigations as a murder probe after he passed away.
The cause of Adib’s death is currently being investigated by a Coroner’s Court.
In an editorial, The Malaysian Insight warned of Nazri playing a dangerous game.
It said that Nazri and his Umno friends are stoking the embers of hatred between Malays and non-Malays, and planting discord between Muslims and non-Muslims.
“They care not if this blessed country goes up in smoke and if we see each other as enemies.
“What they want is for Malays to feel under siege, fearful of an imagined bogeyman that is supposedly on a march to strip them of rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
“Nazri Aziz and his dangerous Umno comrades believe that only by playing the race and religious card to the max will they stand a chance of rising from the ashes of GE14’s humiliation,” the editorial said.
Evidence offered so far in the Adib inquest is far from conclusive on the fireman’s cause of death. Some believe he was assaulted by several rioters, while others think he was accidentally knocked down by a fire engine that was reversing.
The editorial said Nazri and his Umno friends are not interested in facts or the reality from the ongoing inquest.
“They want to snare a larger share of the Malay vote in Semenyih and believe that the most effective way to do this is by painting the Chinese, Indian and non-Muslim Bumiputeras from East Malaysia as the ogre.
“This is about creating a false narrative about Malaysia after the May 9 elections, repeating it as many times as possible and hoping that it gets traction in the Malay community.
“Nazri wants Malays to believe that they cannot get fair treatment and justice from non-Muslims,” the editorial said.
It questioned the Pakatan government if they were going to allow Umno politicians to lead the country to the precipice of disaster or are they going to take down those who agitate for racial strife.
Earlier reports:
Feb 25, Cops Quiz Nazri Aziz over ‘Seditious’ Speech
Feb 25, Nazri Playing Race Card, Should be Probed for Sedition