Hannah dares PM to table Race Relations Act

 

Hannah Yeoh said she had been sceptical when Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced his Malaysian Family slogan and said tabling a Race Relations Act would show if he was sincere.

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has been challenged to table a Race Relations Act if he is really serious about his Malaysian Family concept.

Hannah Yeoh (PH-Segambut) said she was not sure that Ismail was capable of uniting all the races in the country, pointing to the budget as an example.

“Budget 2022 is based on race, and not in line with the prime minister’s Malaysian Family approach,” she said when debating the Supply Bill 2022.

“The Covid-19 crisis has affected all races. It should be a recovery budget and an inclusive one.”

She told the Dewan Rakyat that she read a Wikipedia page linking Ismail to six controversies, many linked to racial issues. Among them are calling for a boycott of Chinese businesses, mooting Low Yat 2 for Malay traders only, Mara’s termination of sponsorship for Taylor’s University and the eating of turtle eggs.

“Many opposition MPs have also objected to the ‘unfair’ budget. This shows his real identity. No amount of rebranding can help a bad product,” she said.

She said she had been sceptical when Ismail announced his Malaysian Family slogan after being appointed as prime minister.

However, she admitted that people can change for the better.

Due to that, she hoped he would accept her challenge and table the Race Relations Act “if he is serious about his Malaysian Family approach”.

For decades, many NGOs have clamoured for such an Act, to mirror a UK legislation based on the idea that the only way to achieve good race relations was by insisting that all individuals, employers and public sector bodies have a duty to promote good inter-race relations.

The UK Act applies to a wide range of anti-discrimination situations in employment, housing, provision of goods, facilities and services to the public. - FMT