NEW YORK: The ‘New Malaysia’ will firmly espouse the principles promoted by the United Nations in its international engagements, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The prime minister, delivering Malaysia’s national statement at the 73rd United Nations General Assembly’s general debate, said these include the principles of truth, human rights, the rule of law, justice, fairness, responsibility and accountability, as well as sustainability.
“It is within this context that the new government of Malaysia has pledged to ratify all remaining core UN instruments related to the protection of human rights.
“However, this will not be easy as Malaysia is multi-ethnic, multireligious, multicultural and multilingual.
“We will accord space and time for all to deliberate and to decide freely based on democracy.”
“After 15 years and at 93, I return to this podium with the heavy task of bringing the voice and hope of the new Malaysia to the world stage.
“The people of Malaysia, proud of their recent democratic achievement, have high hopes that around the world – we will see peace, progress and prosperity.
“In this we look toward the UN to hear our pleas,” he said.
The Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, in its election manifesto, had pledged to uphold the UN standards of human rights in Malaysia.
Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah in July had pledged to push for the ratification of six international human rights conventions.
Malaysia has yet to become a signatory to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
It has also yet to become a signatory to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families; as well as the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir said the new PH government was committed to ensuring every Malaysian has an equitable share in the prosperity and wealth of the nation.
“Malaysians want a nation that upholds the principles of fairness, good governance, integrity and the rule of law. They want a Malaysia that is a friend to all and enemy of none. A Malaysia that remains neutral and non-aligned.”
Dr Mahathir said Malaysians want a nation that would speak its mind on what was right and wrong, without fear or favour.
He also touched on the trade war between the United States and China that left the rest of the world “feeling the pain”.
Dr Mahathir hit out at the hypocrisy of rich countries preaching the importance of open markets but invaded small countries with infant industries with their products.
“The simple products of the poor are subjected to clever barriers so that they cannot penetrate the market of the rich,” he said, citing Malaysia’s palm oil as an example.
“These caring people forget that their boycott is depriving hundreds of thousands of people from jobs and a decent life.”
Malaysia, which has around 650,000 oil palm smallholders, is the world’s second largest palm oil producer after Indonesia.
The European Parliament earlier this year voted to ban the use of palm oil in all European biofuels by 2020, citing environmental concerns. However, it later softened its stand and proposed instead to cap the use of biofuels from food or feed crops.