Anti-discrimination law: Umno Youth leader moots the carrot

Umno Youth deputy chief Khairul Azwan Harun has expressed support for legislation related to discrimination.

However, the senator said he preferred to throw his weight behind a move to reward companies and organisations that promote diversity, as opposed to punishing those that do not.

In a Facebook posting this afternoon, Khairul disclosed his reasons for this in light of the controversy surrounding a laundrette catering exclusively for Muslims in Johor.

“Malaysians have always aspired for choice over adherence. You can choose to open up a halal or non-halal restaurant.

“You can choose to send your children to a sekolah kebangsaan (national school), a Chinese or Indian (Tamil) school. This is a normality in Malaysia that we often take for granted, one that may even be criticised as Malaysia grows,” he said.

On the same note, the Umno Youth leader pointed out that with choice comes the responsibility to be tolerant and the need to understand that certain cultures or religions in Malaysia have their particular requirements.

“With the acceptance of diversity for choice, we need to be comfortable with the fact that we are all not going to be the same, and that is okay.

“I think that we would achieve a higher level of understanding when we recognise that there are certain Muslims who prefer Muslims-only laundromats as part of their way of life,” he said.

Khairul Azwan expressed hope that the overall concern shown by Malaysians towards discrimination could translate into something more positive.

“The fact that so many Malaysians shared their opinions on the issue, whether in support or against, is a good sign for the progressiveness of our democracy,” he added.

Yesterday, DAP lawmaker Teo Nie Ching raised the need for comprehensive anti-discrimination laws following the laundrette issue.

“It's time we think about having an anti-discrimination law that addresses discrimination on the grounds of religion, race and gender,” Teo said.

The Kulai MP also asked whether she would be arrested if she opened a similar business for non-Muslims alone.

The owner of the Muslims-only laundrette has since apologised and opened his doors to customers of all faiths following a dressing down from Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.- Mkini