Concrete laws, not slogans, will curb racial hatred
Nigel AwPublished: Jul 27, 2011 5:42 AM | Updated: Jul 27, 2011 7:47 AM
A Race Relations Act and an Equal Opportunities Commission are needed to curb racial tension and dismantle institutionalised racism that permeates the civil service and even schools, says rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram).
A Race Relations Act and an Equal Opportunities Commission are needed to curb racial tension and dismantle institutionalised racism that permeates the civil service and even schools, says rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram).
"It is essential that a Race Relations Act be enacted to criminalise incitement to racial hatred and an Equal Opportunities Commission established to hear complaints on racial discrimination, with the authority to investigate and enforce just decisions," it said.
In its 2010 Human Rights Report, the NGO said that despite Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's 1Malaysia slogan that espouses national unity, it has not been reflected in his government.
Among the examples cited were comments made by the prime minister's special officer Nasir Safar, who was reported as saying that "Indians came to Malaysia as beggars and Chinese, especially women, came to sell their bodies".
It also pointed out the case of Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who reportedly accused the Chinese and Indian communities of not being patriotic enough.
Racism even in schools
The report further highlighted instances of racism in schools, among them, the case of school principal Siti Inshah who reportedly compared Indian students wearing prayer threads with dogs and telling Indian and Chinese students that if they were unhappy they could "return to China or India".
"The 1Malaysia campaign is pure rhetoric. A populist slogan, designed to do little more than bring BN voters to the polls.
"... the Malaysian public does not benefit from any policy change and sees racist propaganda continue and racism by government officials go unchecked," the report says.
It also acknowledged Najib's New Economic Model (NEM), which has the intention of being needs-based and merit-based as opposed to race-based.
However, it pointed out that the prime minister was bowing to pressure from far-right Malay groups such as Perkasa, which has called the new policy "anti-Malay".
"While the New Economic Model has offered some hope for policy change, the Najib government has decided to cling to its populist bumiputera policy.
"Beyond this, changing racially based employment, education and housing policies, to name a few, will require a significant shift in political will and government mentality," it adds.
"It is essential that a Race Relations Act be enacted to criminalise incitement to racial hatred and an Equal Opportunities Commission established to hear complaints on racial discrimination, with the authority to investigate and enforce just decisions," it said.In its 2010 Human Rights Report, the NGO said that despite Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's 1Malaysia slogan that espouses national unity, it has not been reflected in his government.
Among the examples cited were comments made by the prime minister's special officer Nasir Safar, who was reported as saying that "Indians came to Malaysia as beggars and Chinese, especially women, came to sell their bodies".
It also pointed out the case of Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who reportedly accused the Chinese and Indian communities of not being patriotic enough.
Racism even in schools
The report further highlighted instances of racism in schools, among them, the case of school principal Siti Inshah who reportedly compared Indian students wearing prayer threads with dogs and telling Indian and Chinese students that if they were unhappy they could "return to China or India".
"The 1Malaysia campaign is pure rhetoric. A populist slogan, designed to do little more than bring BN voters to the polls.
"... the Malaysian public does not benefit from any policy change and sees racist propaganda continue and racism by government officials go unchecked," the report says.It also acknowledged Najib's New Economic Model (NEM), which has the intention of being needs-based and merit-based as opposed to race-based.
However, it pointed out that the prime minister was bowing to pressure from far-right Malay groups such as Perkasa, which has called the new policy "anti-Malay".
"While the New Economic Model has offered some hope for policy change, the Najib government has decided to cling to its populist bumiputera policy.
"Beyond this, changing racially based employment, education and housing policies, to name a few, will require a significant shift in political will and government mentality," it adds.
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