Amid concerns raised over Putrajaya's plans to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd), a minister today argued that the United Nations instrument could serve as a unifying tool for Malaysians.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department P Waythamoorthy reassured critics that ratification would not compromise any provisions of the Federal Constitution, a stand previously taken by other Harapan leaders, including Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

"As minister in charge of national unity and social wellbeing, I view the international convention Icerd as an excellent unifying tool for countries such as Malaysia, which has diverse religions and ethnicities...