DURBAN (Radiqradio) - Information Minister Khalil Yaakob yesterday outlined Malaysia's support for the Palestinian cause and opened up Malaysia's position on the issue of reparations for colonialism and slavery.

Speaking at the third World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa, Khalil lashed out against the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

"The measures which the Israeli government continues to take in the name of security have reached dangerous and untenable proportions, amounting to an indiscriminate policy of collective punishment and domination over the entire Palestinian population," he said.

These views were in keeping with those expressed by the non-governmental organisation community in Durban.

Poor reflection

However some of Khalil's other statements at the meet were considered to be a poor reflection of the state of race relations and racism in Malaysia.

The minister said the Malaysian government implemented policies that allow all races to share in economic development but Jannie Lasimbang from the Orang Asal community in Sabah claims that the indigenous peoples' of Malaysia have not benefitted from this process.

"I would just like to point out that many indigenous peoples' both in the peninsula and in Sabah and Sarawak are actually poorer and not better because of the (government) policies," said Jannie who is also the secretary-general of the Asia-Pacific Indigenous Peoples' Pact.

"The efforts the government has made in terms of eradicating poverty are by way of having large development projects such as dams. They have taken land from indigenous peoples. Not recognising indigenous ownership of land is a type of racial discrimination," added Jannie.

Migrant workers' groups based in the Philippines also expressed concern that the minister's views were different from the realities in Malaysia.

Khalil had said those who migrate to new areas in search of better employment opportunities should not become victims of racism.

In reaction to this, a social worker from the Philippines said while it was a positive statement, it had failed to touch on issues which affect migrant workers whose rights are violated and the racism affecting all migrant workers, particularly foreign domestic workers, in Malaysia.

Institutionalised racism

Meanwhile, in a speech distributed to government delegates, Dr Kua Kia Soong, director of human rights organisation Suaram, also criticised the Malaysian government.

Kua focused on the recent communal violence in Petaling Jaya Selatan and the sensitive topic of institutionalised racism.

"Umno unabashedly proclaims that national unity must be premised on Malay dominance," he said.

Kua urged the government to examine a recent NGO declaration on building non-racial government institutions and also called for the ratification of various international covenants, including the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination.

The United Nations conference ends tomorrow.