KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 — The “New Malaysia” under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government will not abandon Malays and Islam, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today.

The PKR president said liberals have accused him of being “Malay and Islam” underneath his veneer, which he did not deny.

“I love this country. I want justice for all people in this country. But this cannot diminish my love for my race and culture and my confidence in the principles of Islam,” Anwar said in a lecture at Universiti Malaya here today that was broadcast on Facebook.

“I believe that this foundation is not rejected by the current government.”

The Port Dickson MP also said the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) administration was the one who first raised the issue of ratifying the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) in 2010.

Anwar said that currently, however, Malaysia could not start by immediately rejecting international treaties like ICERD, saying it would be discussed first.

“Firstly, we are anti-discrimination,” said Anwar.

“In our country, citizens have the same rights. So we oppose racial and religious oppression. We must be clear.”

He expressed uncertainty if the ratification of ICERD would affect constitutional provisions on Malay rights, the royalty, the national language, and Islam as the religion of the federation.

“Some believe they are not affected. I myself am unsure because legal interpretations in Malaysia may not necessarily be the same as those overseas. Therefore, our suggestion is to postpone it and allow for public discussions,” he said.

Anwar stressed that he was against discrimination and racial ideologies.

“I want all Malaysians — Malays, Chinese, Indians, Sabahans and Sarawakians — to feel that they have the right to develop our country together. But I also stress that Islam must be appreciated as the religion of the federation.”

Malay-Muslim groups, as well as Umno and PAS, have protested strongly against the government’s plan to ratify ICERD, a United Nations treaty, claiming that it would remove Malay privileges.