Kebijakan Afirmatif di Malaysia: Analisis Idiosinkretis Penolakan Mahathir Mohamad untuk Meratifikasi ICERD

Abstract

In November 2018 Mahathir Mohamad, who re-assumed the position of Prime Minister
of Malaysia stated that Malaysia would not ratify ICERD. It is considered by some to be a
setback for the struggle of equalization of racial rights in Malaysia. Previous research on racial
discrimination in Malaysia focused mostly on the human rights side and the roots of
discrimination itself without specifically addressing the issue of ICERD. This study will analyze
the rationale behind Malaysia's refusal to ratify ICERD using an idiosyncratic theory.
Researcher place the level of analysis at the individual level, by examining Mahathir Mohamad.
By analyzing elements of Mahathir Mohamad’s leadership style, the researcher argues that the
strong driving factor behind Malaysia's refusal to ratify ICERD is an element of Mahathir's
experience and interest in politics as a person who was predominantly Malay-chauvinist because
of his Malay-centric ideas.