Racism in Malaysia

"If it's a Malay problem, it's a national problem. If it's a Chinese problem, it's a racial problem. If it's an Indian problem, it's not a problem."  —  Uncyclopedia [1]

"Tall buildings, narrow minds: After 50 years, Malaysia should stop treating a third of its people as not-quite-citizens."  —  The Economist [2]

"The causes and effects of establishing and perpetuating of the "we" and "they" boundaries are manifold. They can partially explain the tight control on the print media by the Malaysian state apparatus whose interest in a divided and fragmented society is obvious."  —  Frederik Holst and Saskia Schafer [3]

Racism in Malaysia

1. Malaysia is a multi–ethnic country, with constitutional Malays making up the majority, comprising close to 52% of the population. About 30% of the population are Malaysian Chineses, while Malaysian Indians comprise about 8% of the population.^[6]

1. The New Economic Policy (NEP), including affirmative action in public education, designed to favor bumiputeras (constitutional Malays and other indigenous races) were implemented since 1971 when the Alliance Party (now known as the Barisan Nasional) lost its two-thirds majority in parliament in West Malaysia during the 1969 general election, leading to the May 13 Incident. These policies are enshrined inArticle 153 of the Constitution of Malaysia and questioning them is technically illegal.

1. The NEP, however, have not been fully effective in eradicating poverty among rural bumiputeras and have further caused a backlash, especially from the Chinese and Indian minorities: ^[7]

• 90% of Petronas directors are ethnic Malays, with only 3% of Petronas employees comprising Malaysian Chinese;

• only 5% of all new intakes for the army, police force, and nurses are non-Malays;

• just 7% of government servants in the whole government civil service are ethnic Chinese (2004), a drop from 30% in 1960; and

• 95% of all government contracts are given to Malays.

1. UMNO, the ruling political party since Malaysia's independence from Britain, also promotesKetuanan Melayu, which is the idea that the Malays should get special privileges in Malaysia in perpetuity. The Malay-controlled government ensures that all bumiputeras are given:

• preferential treatment when it comes to the number of student places in public universities;

• a 7% discounts for purchasing new houses;

• special Malay reserve land in most housing settlements;

• burial plots in most urban areas for the deceased bumiputeras, while the rest have to be cremated at such locations or pay premium prices;

• all key government positions to be held by Malays including most sporting associations;

• a minimum of a 30% bumiputera equity to be held in listed companies;

• full funding for mosques and Islamic places of worship;

• special high earning interest trust funds for bumiputeras; and

• special share allocation for new share applications for bumiputeras.

1. Recently, however, the government has decided to made 45% of overseas scholarship open to non-Malays.

1. The damage caused by Malaysia's state racism is ever more evident. Malaysia's once sparkling growth rate has slipped.^[8] Racial quotas and protectionism are scaring away some foreign investors. While Malaysia celebrates having done rather better than former British colonies in Africa, they must also take notice that South Korea, Taiwan, and their estranged ex-spouse, Singapore, have done much, much better. The economic consequences alone justify ending Malaysia's official racism.

The tentacles of institutionalized racism extend into practically every sphere of life – economic, social, administrative, and even culture and religion.^[5]