KUALA LUMPUR: Gerakan has been urged to back the ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).
Its outgoing Youth chief Tan Keng Liang said ICERD’s objectives were good and backing it would show that the country was progressive.
He said Pakatan Harapan would be moving in the right direction by inking the treaties related to it.
“It will show that Malaysia is a progressive nation. I urge Gerakan to throw its support if Pakatan goes ahead with this,” said Tan during the opening of Gerakan’s Wanita and Youth conference at its headquarters here today.
Meanwhile, Tan also said that claims that vernacular schools would have to be closed if Malaysia ratified ICERD were unfounded.
“I do not believe this is true. Chinese and Tamil schools as well as Sekolah Agama accepts all races. The only difference is that the schools allow the classes to be taught in their respective languages,” she added.
Tan also said that Gerakan must play its role as an opposition party but should support good measures by the Government.
“We are the opposition, but we do not have to oppose everything. We must be constructive,” said Tan.
This time around Tan has stayed out from contesting in the elections.
Ooi Zhi Yii is set to be the new Gerakan Youth chief after his opponent Chew Teik Thye dropped out.