ICERD controversy 2018 - Waytha made scapegoat

August 22, 2025. In a video posted online Hindraf and MAP President rejects allegations by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his cyber team that he was the mastermind behind bringing ICERD (International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination) to Parliament, supposedly to undermine Malay and Muslim rights.

Waytha stressed that this blatant and desperate attempt by Anwar’s. cyber team was to discourage PAS MPs’ from raising this matter in the current Parliament session.

He stresses that the real initiators of ICERD were Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Anwar himself, pointing out that PH’s 2018 election manifesto at page 76 Promise 26 clearly pledged to ratify international conventions, including ICERD. Although Anwar was then in prison, the manifesto could not have been finalized without his approval.

On 8 November 2018, during the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) session at the United Nations in Geneva, Malaysia’s delegation led by Datuk Ramlan Ibrahim - then KSU of Wisma Putra,  declared that Malaysia would ratify ICERD. Waytha argues this was direct initiatives of PH Ministers and not him.

On 18 November 2018, Anwar was reported as saying there was “no problem” with ratifying ICERD and dismissing concerns that it would affect Malay rights. The very next day, 19 November 2018, Waytha added he was attacked in Parliament and accused of pushing ICERD, when in fact he was only answering questions on behalf of the government using input prepared by the Foreign Ministry based on PH’s decisions.

Even after the massive anti-ICERD rally organised by PAS and BN in Kuala Lumpur, Anwar on 9 December 2018 stated that PKR, in principle, supported ICERD and anti-racial discrimination.

Waytha stressed he was made the scapegoat when evidence shows ICERD was initiated by PH and supported by Anwar himself. He claims that Anwar is now using cyber campaigns to attack,  vilify and demean him and PAS leaders—especially YB Takiyuddin and Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man—because he has legally challenged Anwar’s position as Prime Minister.

He concludes that PAS and BN were misled by Anwar on the ICERD issue since 2018, and he is prepared to present more evidence if Anwar continues to deny it.

Image credit: NSTP