KOMAS Monitors - July 2024 Newsletter

August 07, 2024

Pusat KOMAS | Advocates Equality | Fights Racism and Racial Discrimination

Pusat KOMAS is a human rights organisation set up in August 1993. Its core mission is to advocate against racism and racial discrimination in Malaysia.

Welcome to the first edition of KOMAS Monitors. Here, we dissect issues and current topics related to racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia of the month. We also present our takes on these issues to facilitate discussions, dialogue and conversations to cultivate a deeper understanding between Malaysians.

Here are some issues highlighted in July:

George Town Festival - intentional exclusion of the Malay community? 

Picture credit: Pocket News

The recent George Town Festival was embroiled in controversy when a teaser video featuring various artists in their cultural elements seemingly excluded the Malay-Muslim community. This has provoked many to leave nasty comments on Georgetown Festival’s social media platforms calling them out for their exclusion of the Malay cultural arts. However, Five Arts Centre director Jo Kukathas stated that the promotional video featured a Malay contemporary dancer, whose work of art has been appealing to the international arts community.

While it is unfortunate that the George Town Festival’s promotional video seemed to have excluded a certain community, the backlash towards the exclusion has been abhorrent, as racist remarks emerged on George Town Festival’s social media platforms. KOMAS believes that cooler heads should prevail, as George Town Festival organisers have stated that the exclusion was not intentional. At the same time, the lack of a diverse line-up behind those organising the George Town Festival leaves much to be desired. We believe that having a diverse leadership organising the arts festival will allow for a better understanding towards all Malaysian arts and culture experiences

Bajau Laut evictions - political agenda?

Picture credit: The Borneo Post

The recent Bajau Laut evictions have garnered massive attention towards the marginalised community. Their houses were destroyed by authorities, although there were claims that they had set the house on fire themselves. This has caused Borneo Komrad founder Mukmin Nantang to be arrested under the Sedition Act for championing the cause of the Bajau Laut. Meanwhile, it was also found that the agenda to evict the marginalised could be politically motivated, with Deputy Chief Minister Joachim Gunsalam vowing to eradicate poverty in the state.

Pusat KOMAS have stated before that marginalised groups should not be subjected to unwarranted xenophobia. The Bajau Laut are nomadic humans who rely on sea diving for a living and should be treated as fellow human beings. We call for more engagement between the marginalised groups and the state government to foster a better solution.

Brewery donation to Chinese schools - Just an oversight? 

Picture credit: The Star

Selangor PAS courted a political storm when they highlighted that Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Aiman Athirah Sabu was posing with a mock cheque that featured an alcohol brewery. This criticism was then rebuked by several Chinese politicians for politicising a long-standing tradition of the Chinese schools receiving donations from the public, with brewery companies serving as a platform to help organise concerts as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility project. Meanwhile, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek stated that the Ministry will not make exemptions to the guidelines written in 2018 that prohibit tobacco, alcohol and gambling companies from making donations to schools. This was confirmed by the Education Ministry after the Cabinet meeting decided to retain its guidelines and that it is status quo as usual, with Chinese school boards allowed to organise fundraising events.

Chinese schools have been receiving lesser budget allocations from the Education Ministry to uphold and maintain their schools. For the past 30 years, Chinese schools have sought funds from the public to keep their schools afloat. At the same time, we questioned the brewery’s CSR initiative by putting up such a prominent logo, circumventing existing advertising guidelines on what is permissible and what isn’t. Nonetheless, we hope to see a resolution and we strive for equity, whereby all schools under the Malaysian education system receive equal treatment and equal budget allocation, so that Chinese schools need not rely on public funds to maintain their schools.

However, not all stories are of doom and gloom. From time to time, we will also feature stories of advocates who use their position to fight against racism, discrimination and xenophobia.

Uplifting stories of the month

PM Anwar’s announcement that all students with 10As will be given spots to do matriculation in Malaysia. 

Picture credit: Malay Mail

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that students with 10As, regardless of their background, will be guaranteed spots to do matriculation in Malaysia. His announcement has effectively shattered racial barriers, allowing students of all backgrounds a chance to pursue higher education within Malaysia. Previously, the matriculation programme was conducted based on the quota system, of which 90% is reserved for students who are bumiputera, and another 10% for non-bumiputera. It has been a source of contention in the past as some top scorers of non-bumiputera descent are unable to secure matriculation spots.

Read our statement lauding the Prime Minister’s announcement HERE

Heed Penang’s racial diversity when developing state programmes, says Penang governor

Picture credit: Free Malaysia Today (Bernama pic)

Penang governor Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak has reminded that state-level programmes need to be implemented taking into account the sensitivity of ethnic diversity for peace and the people’s well-being. He said the diversity of race, religion, and culture, with differences in language and demographic as well as generational distribution today should be celebrated without creating any gaps. He also said the struggle towards peace, stability and prosperity in this state is not only on the shoulders of an individual or a certain party but rather it is a trust and a responsibility that must be shared by all parties.

Pusat KOMAS applauds the statement made by Penang Governor Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak. In this era where rhetoric can be socially divisive, strong statements emphasising our diversity and unity will resonate with the public. We hope other will follow suit.

Have you experienced or witnessed an incident of racism or racial discrimination? Here’s what you can do:-