64% of Malaysians faced discrimination over past year, says group

An online survey has found that Malays and Indians are more likely to report experiencing pay-related discrimination than the Chinese.

KUALA LUMPUR: A majority of Malaysians have encountered some form of discrimination over the past 12 months, according to a survey conducted by the Architects of Diversity.

The social reform group’s executive director, Jason Wee, said a survey it conducted found that 64% of Malaysians have experienced discrimination, primarily from social media (32%), while job hunting (30%) and at work (29%).

Wee said 3,238 responses were recorded from across the country for its State of Discrimination Survey 2023.

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The online survey obtained feedback from all major races, with 1,469 respondents from those aged between 25 and 39.

“Malaysians experienced discrimination related to their socio-economic status (38%), age (33%) and ethnicity (32%),” said Wee, after announcing the results of the survey.

He said the country is apparently split over how satisfied it is with the current government’s efforts to counter discrimination, with 45% of the citizens satisfied and 40% not satisfied.

The rest either preferred not to say or did not have much understanding of the subject.

Those in the 18-24 year age group, referred to as Generation Z, were more likely to report having experienced ethnicity-related discrimination (43%).

Indians reported facing more discrimination than other races when seeking jobs (51%), looking for housing (35%) and dealing with the police (21%).

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Work conditions (62%) and remuneration (53%) were reported in workplace discrimination.

Wee also said that East Malaysians were more likely to experience discrimination related to work conditions (72%).

The Malays (56%) and Indians (60%) were more likely to report pay-related discrimination than their Chinese (41%) and other Bumiputera peers (51%). - FMT