KOMAS Monitors - September 2024 Newsletter

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.

The third edition of KOMAS Monitors dissects issues and current topics related to racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia for September.

Here are some issues highlighted in September:

No country harping on race and religion has succeeded, says NGO leader 

Global Human Rights Federation president S Shashi Kumar said that countries that bring race and religion into politics will only invite failure, as countries that harp on race and religion do not become developed nations. He said developed countries focused on important issues such as the economy, how to progress, develop and bring investors into the country. He also chastised Malaysian politicians on both sides for not moving away from incendiary topics and kept drumming into people’s heads that Islam is under threat, when the position of Islam, the Malays and royalty are protected under the Federal Constitution.

Government launches plan to counter terrorists, political and racial extremists

The government has launched the Malaysian Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism to boost combatting activities and ideologies of terrorists in the country. The action plan was developed to coordinate actions to deal with the threat of extremist ideology based on four cores - prevention, enforcement, rehabilitation and reinforcement. It emphasises the issue of the threat of extremist ideology of terrorism holistically, including political and racial extremists, social, religious as well as external elements. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the plan needs to be strictly implemented and exposed to the people, especially when there are quarters in the country using racial elements to threaten peace.

Convention to outline National Unity Plan, says minister

Picture credit: The Borneo Post

The National Unity Ministry will submit a national reconciliation framework to address unity-related issues and challenges to the National Unity Advisory Council (MPPN). Its minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang, at the launching of the National History and Unity Convention here, said the convention would focus on providing a better understanding of Malaysia’s history and seek solutions to address issues on national unity. Due to the challenges faced in retrieving historical records overseas, the minister called upon historians and researchers to make use of the historical records at the National Archives for a comprehensive guide on research and school curriculum purposes.

Halal certification - Umno Youth chief schools Seputeh MP for voicing out her concerns

Picture credit: The Reporter

Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok engaged in a verbal argument after Teresa Kok voiced out her objection to the suggestion to have restaurants that do not serve alcohol or pork to undergo mandatory halal certification. In response, Akmal Saleh called Teresa Kok an old Nyonya and said he will personally put a sticker on her with a non-halal logo. This prompted Teresa Kok to send a legal letter demanding for Akmal to apologise and Akmal replied that he will see her in court.

Read Pusat KOMAS’ press statement condemning Akmal Saleh’s actions against Teresa Kok HERE.

Pusat KOMAS activities of the month -

Pusat KOMAS embarks on empowerment through organising Bangsa Malaysia workshops with the grassroots communities. The workshops focus on providing a safe space to discuss racism and racial discrimination in this country. We also pursue state and federal government advocacy using a range of powerful tools and meeting with relevant stakeholders to push for policy changes at the state and federal level of government. The impact is that we empower communities - from top to bottom - to be more aware of their rights and privileges, and become informed citizens towards racial issues.

Pusat KOMAS roundtable discussion on National Harmony Reconciliation Bill

Pusat KOMAS conducted a roundtable discussion on the National Harmony Reconciliation Bill. The roundtable discussion was attended by various representatives of civil society organisations and international speakers who gave their opinions on the National Harmony Reconciliation Bill and the proposed establishment of the National Harmony Reconciliation Commission. The various representatives from civil society organisations had given feedback to the team of Pusat KOMAS to improve the research paper on the National Harmony and Reconciliation commission.

Pusat KOMAS holds 12th National Conference on Non-discrimination in Kuala Lumpur

On September 2, Pusat KOMAS held the 12th National Conference on non-discrimination in Bangsar South, Kuala Lumpur. The conference, themed “Manoeuvring Malaysia out of the Racism Trap”,  featured international speakers such as Alissa Wahid from Indonesia, Teesta Setalvad from India and Sudhir Thomas Vadaketh from Singapore and local speakers that included representatives from state and federal government and agencies, as well as moderators that come from civil society organisations. The conference was also officiated by Deputy National Unity Minister, YB Saraswathy Kandasami. The conference also had three panels and it was well received by the participants who gave constructive feedback to the panellists on how to manoeuvre Malaysia out of the racism trap.

Pusat KOMAS workshop with PYDC and Tambun Parliamentary office

Pusat KOMAS conducted two Bangsa Malaysia workshops - one with the Penang Youth Development Corporation (PYDC) in Penang, and another with the Tambun parliamentary office in Perak. Both workshops were conducted successfully with the youths as they learn more about racism, racial discrimination and how to overcome them. The workshop with PYDC is important because it is conducted with a government agency, while the Tambun parliamentary office workshop is also important because it is the constituency held by current Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. We hope that the Bangsa Malaysia workshops will continue to inspire youths to take action and bring change to the current situation.