'Leaders should declare if they back Anwar's needs-based affirmative action'

Political leaders in the country should declare whether they agree with PKR president Anwar Ibrahim's position that there should be a shift towards needs-based affirmative action, says Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) commissioner Jerald Joseph.

"Maybe we need to send letters to every YB to ask whether they agree or not," he said, adding that there was also a need to articulate why a needs-based approach works well.

Jerald, speaking at the 9th National Conference on Non-Discrimination in Kota Kinabalu today, said Anwar's call to expedite needs-based affirmative action was long overdue.

"I feel if they don't do this now, we will just continue the legacy (of race-based affirmative action), so we demand to know if the leaders dare to speak up on this.

"If they can't do it, is it because they are too afraid of opposition from the right-wing? We need to call this out," he said.

Jerald noted that there is now little talk about the fifth pillar of Pakatan Harapan's manifesto, which called for the creation of a Malaysia that is inclusive, moderate and respected globally.

"Maybe they are not talking about this because this topic is not a winning topic. But we hope the government can stand up to the bullying tactics of right-wing groups.

"We want them to have the moral courage to make the right decisions, which may not be populist but is politically courageous. This is the moment or we'll remain the same.

"The government cannot keep quiet about it...it must go on a positive offensive. Can the ministers call out these hate propagators? This is a demand for leadership," he said.

He also raised the polarisation of various sectors, giving an example that government departments were dominated by one race and religion.

"I am not saying it should be different because I hate Malays and Muslims, but it is because there is a need to dismantle the policy of one race and one religion," he said. - Mkini