The Sun
by Pauline Wong
by Pauline Wong
PETALING JAYA (March 2, 2011): Ethnicity is important, but it is not all that matters, and it is time we stopped being a race-obsessed nation, said the 1Malaysia Foundation today.
Its trustees, led by chairman Prof Dr Chandra Muzaffar, have called for the removal of racial status on forms wherever it is unnecessary, or when ethnicity has no bearing on a particular situation.
"Why is it necessary for hire purchase agreements, application for bank loans, or public examination registration forms to have a column identifying racial status?" said Chandra at a press conference today.
If ethnic statistics are vital for nation-building purposes, then the usage is justified, he said, citing examples of increasing non-Malay participation in civil service, the police or armed forces, or when strengthening the role of certain races in the private sector.
Still, there are many areas where race continues to be emphasised unnecessarily.
Its trustees, led by chairman Prof Dr Chandra Muzaffar, have called for the removal of racial status on forms wherever it is unnecessary, or when ethnicity has no bearing on a particular situation.
"Why is it necessary for hire purchase agreements, application for bank loans, or public examination registration forms to have a column identifying racial status?" said Chandra at a press conference today.
If ethnic statistics are vital for nation-building purposes, then the usage is justified, he said, citing examples of increasing non-Malay participation in civil service, the police or armed forces, or when strengthening the role of certain races in the private sector.
Still, there are many areas where race continues to be emphasised unnecessarily.
"Look at the way we refer to each other, always by race first. Surely that is not that important," he said, adding that doing so is an obstacle to achieving unity.
Board of Trustees member Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said he believed having to identify race in forms is regressive to the goal of unity.
"It is my hope that following this call from the foundation, all the public and private agencies will review the forms they issue as a positive step to contribute to national unity."
The foundation has engaged in discussions with various banking institutions in the country in this matter, and response has been positive.
"Many have agreed to not make racial status a mandatory field, and soon they will remove it completely," said Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes, who is also a trustee of the foundation.
However, the declaration of religion in forms is still needed in situations where differences in religious practice bears significance.
"This should not be misunderstood," said trustee Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, adding that this has nothing to do with politics or religion.
"It is about doing away with our narrow, obsessed-with-race mindset," he said.
Board of Trustees member Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said he believed having to identify race in forms is regressive to the goal of unity.
"It is my hope that following this call from the foundation, all the public and private agencies will review the forms they issue as a positive step to contribute to national unity."
The foundation has engaged in discussions with various banking institutions in the country in this matter, and response has been positive.
"Many have agreed to not make racial status a mandatory field, and soon they will remove it completely," said Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes, who is also a trustee of the foundation.
However, the declaration of religion in forms is still needed in situations where differences in religious practice bears significance.
"This should not be misunderstood," said trustee Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, adding that this has nothing to do with politics or religion.
"It is about doing away with our narrow, obsessed-with-race mindset," he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment