Fight racism at home, too, govt urged

 

Denison Jayasooria says the government’s international commitments to fight racism should also be applied at the local level.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia has been active in global calls to eliminate racism, but it continues to struggle with issues of racism and racial discrimination in the local context, according to a sociologist.

“The Malaysian government made many international commitments to eliminate racism, such as signing various resolutions against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

“Those international commitments should also be applied at the local level,” Denison Jayasooria said.

He said the government should not portray itself as an ardent supporter of the fight against racism at the international level if it refused to provide a similar commitment at the local level.

Jayasooria was speaking at a webinar titled, “20 Years Post Durban Declaration: Is Malaysia spearheaded in the right direction?” organised by human rights group Pusat Komas and the Society for the Promotion of Human Rights (Proham) today.

He noted that Malaysia signed a resolution against racism during the 76th session of the UN General Assembly at the United Nations headquarters in New York yesterday.

“However, not many people know about this. Malaysians need to know about the government’s commitments in fighting racism and discrimination at the global level.”

Further, he proposed for the government to form a multi-stakeholder group of lawmakers and representatives from civil society, the private sector and academia to combat racial discrimination at the local level.

“Engagements and dialogues with relevant ministries such as the foreign ministry and national unity ministry are needed to highlight racial discrimination in the country,” he added. - FMT