GEORGE TOWN: DAP has distanced itself from commenting on the ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).
Its secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, when approached on the matter at the state DAP convention today, said the matter should be answered by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department P. Watha Moorthy.
“We did not raise the issue. It was Watha who did,” he said.
Pressed on DAP’s stand on ratifying the ICERD, Lim said his focus now was on improving the country’s economy.
“My concern now is addressing the country’s economy,” he said.
The government recently announced its plans to ratify ICERD alongside five other UN treaties in the first quarter of next year.
Since then, many politicians, including Cabinet members, have expressed objections to the move following public backlash.
Earlier, when addressing the crowd, Lim said DAP would support whatever was set out in the Federal Constitution.
He said that the support towards the Federal Constitution was part of the ‘Bina Negara’ concept by Pakatan Harapan government.
“We will 100 per cent support and uphold the Federal Constitution. However, the opposition is playing up extremism issues.
“It is their only way to survive. They do not have anything else to offer the people,” he said.