The total number of incidents of racism, racial discrimination, and xenophobia, as a whole, has decreased in 2023 compared to the previous year, the 2023 Malaysia Racism Report revealed today.
The report, which was prepared by NGO Pusat Komas, recorded a total of 50 incidents that were identified as racism, racial discrimination, and xenophobia compared to 2022’s 82 incidents.
Out of the 50 incidents, the report pointed out racial or religious politics constitute the highest number of cases with 31.4 percent.
Meanwhile, racial or religious expressions of prejudice, provocation, or incitement accounted for 17.6 percent.
The report recorded 15 incidents related to racial or religious politics last year, which involved politicians from both sides of the divide.
Among them are Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, former prime ministers Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Muhyiddin Yassin, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, and Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.
“Politicians frequently manipulate racial and religious tension to maintain power.
“The ancient notion of ‘voting for our race so that they would prioritise our needs’ is already deeply ingrained.
“Furthermore, fear was a common strategy used by politicians to maintain followers in their party and divert followers away from their political opponents through misleading statements,” the report wrote.
Pusat Komas programme director Ryan Yumin Chua explained that 2022 was an election year and suggested that many politicians had used race and religion to garner votes, which subsequently led to a higher number of incidents that year.
Surge in other sectors
While the cases have declined in 2023, Chua noted that the incidents recorded in the report derived only from media and police reports.
“The recorded cases may only be the tip of the iceberg.“Many times we find that the only way we can report racist incidents is to the police,” Chua told reporters at the launch of the report today.
Despite the lower total number of incidents reported compared to 2022, the report said racism, discrimination, and xenophobia in other sectors have reached a new nine-year high.
These other sectors are dress code, employment, interracial relationships, and rental market, which have increased from nine cases in 2022 to 15 in 2023. Meanwhile, there were only six cases in 2021 and four in 2020.
The report also listed several other racial and discrimination incidents, including in education, sports, and government policies.
Form National Harmony Reconciliation Commission
Therefore, Pusat Komas stressed that immediate actions must be taken to overcome such pressing issues that continue to erode the social fabric of the nation.
It urged the government to establish a National Harmony Reconciliation Commission (NHRC) to provide a form of redress to victims of racism and racial discrimination.
The commission, it said, will also promote awareness, educate, and make recommendations to Putrajaya for the purpose of national unity.
Chua also added that the NHRC should have the power to investigate and mediate disputes.
“This is the best chance for the government to create an ecosystem where those who suffer discrimination can go to the commission to lodge a report.
“The commission will also have the power to investigate,” Chua said.
After the Pakatan Harapan government came into power in 2018, it initially planned to establish an NHRC.
However, the idea was scrapped when Perikatan Nasional took over following the infamous Sheraton Move in 2020.
The report also called on the government to introduce specific laws to address the issue of 3R (race, religion, and royalty), which outlines clear parameters of what constitutes as 3R offences. - Mkini
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