“Saying No to Racial Politics” was the theme of Pusat KOMAS’ National Conference on Non-Discrimination held in Pullman Kuala Lumpur Bangsar on the 29th October 2015. The conference was well attended by 100 delegates from all sectors – the public service, civil society, the academics and political leaders.

Among the speakers of this year’s National Conference were fellow activists and political leaders from South Africa, Singapore and Indonesia.

CA293567 620x350 1

The National Conference started off with a symbolic gesture by Malaysians for Malaysia. The ceremony started off with a music video named “Here in My Home” which features some of the biggest names in the Malaysian arts rejecting racism. While the videos are being played, volunteers from the participants began walking to the front carrying anti-racism placards. At the end, a red placard was brought forward to symbolically show racism the red card.

CA293226 620x350

Symbolic Gesture: Showing Racism the Red Card

Keynote Address

The Director of Co-operative for Research and Education (CORE) in South Africa who is a senior activist from the era of Apartheid, Mr. Phiroshaw Camay, set the stage of the beginning of the conference by highlighting that even though the South Africa constitution was hailed as the most advanced constitution in the world after adopting its new non-racial democratic constitution, there are still many flaws and fault lines in it.

Mr. Phiroshaw also highlighted that there is a lack of implementation of the constitution from both politicians and government officials in South Africa. In fact, politicians were seen insisting on a racial quota in a wide spectrum including sports. This is a deep seated sign that merit is being sacrificed on the altar of a new reverse racism. He also highlighted that the journey to push away racial politics is still a young one.

WTF 5024

Mr. Phiroshaw Camay delivering the Keynote Address

Session 1 Highlights

Session 1 entitled “ASEAN Neighbours: Fights Against Racism” was moderated by Dr. Denison Jayasooria, Principle Research Fellow of Institute of Ethnic Studies (KITA), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), with panellists being Mr. KH. Maman Imanul Haq a Member of Parliament of the National Awakening Party faction from the Republic of Indonesia and Mr. Rafiz Mohyi Hapipi from Maruah, Singapore.

Mr. KH. Maman shared that the people in Indonesia consists of people from different religions. He believes that these people have the ability to practice what they believe; but there are also groups who are moderates and there are those who are not moderates. It is also important to elaborate the fundamental values such as tolerance and much more. One of the efforts to curb racism in Indonesia is to remove the race column to ensure that everyone gets equal access to education and health. It was also told that moderation is an integral part of Islam and we should not allow extremist interpretations of Islam to dominate the National Landscape.

WTF 5121

Mr. KH. Maman speaking at Session 1 -“ASEAN Neighbours: FIght Against Racism”

Mr. Rafiz Mohyi Hapipi then shared his views on the reality of the race-relations in Singapore. It was also shared that Singapore has recently signed the International Convention of the Elimination of all forms or Racial Discrimination (ICERD) and it would be ratified in 2017. It has yet to be seen the implications of the ratification of ICERD would help curb discrimination at the policy levels in Singapore.

WTF 5120

Mr. Rafiz Mohyi Hapipi addressing the crowd

Session 2 Highlights

Session 2 was entitled “Malaysia Under the Shadow of Racial Politics: Where to Now?” and it was moderated by Mr. Wan Saiful Wan Jan, the Founding Chief Executive of Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS). The panellists include Y.B. Tuan Lim Kit Siang, the Parliamentary Leader of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), Y.B. Dato Dr. Mujahid Yusof Rawa, the Vice President of Parti Amanah Negara (AMANAH) and Y.B. Dr. Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, the Central Committee Member of the Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM).

Y.B Dato Dr. Mujahid Yusof Rawa highlighted that the only way to stop racial politics is to reject any political parties which are race-based. If we are still allowing political parties to be race-based, then racism will determine our policies and laws because these parties are the main political actors. It was also shared that 73.4% of the people wants a party which consists of multi-race based on a survey conducted by Merdeka Centre.

WTF 5236

Y.B. Dato Dr. Mujahid Yusof Rawa sharing at Session 2 – “Malaysia Under the Shadow of Racial Politics: Where to Now?”

Y.B. Dr. Michael Jeyakumar raised a question on whether political parties are part of the solution or part of the problem. Malaysians need to constantly remind the political parties not to play with racial politics. This is because political parties have their own particular electorate to respond to. Political parties have the tendency to play to the gallery to get the vote from their electorate. He advised that the people play an important role in moderating the roles of political parties in Malaysia.

WTF 5258

Y.B. Dr. Michael Jeyakumar sharing his thoughts during the session.

Y.B. Lim Kit Siang shared that it is a challenge to move beyond racial politics in Malaysia and it is not only constrained to the political players but to Malaysians as a whole. He believed that this would require all political parties and all Malaysians to be conscious of their role to be Malaysians rather than just based on their primordial affinities. That would mean for instance, political parties have to reach out and educate the people to be more Malaysians and not focused on their race only. He believed that no single political party or single race can be allowed to rule the country.

WTF 5279

Y.B. Lim Kit Siang stressing on the challenges to move beyond racial politics

Session 3 Highlights

Session 3 entitled “Citizens Initiatives and Responses in Building another Malaysia” was moderated by Mr. Ho Khek Hua the Director of the National Integration Research and Training Institute (IKLIN) from the National Unity and Integration Department (JPNIN). The speakers were Mr. Jerald Joseph, a member of the Board of Directors from Pusat KOMAS, Mr. Tawfik Tun Ismail a member of Group 25 and Dr. Lee Hwok Aun, a senior lecturer of Development Studies in Universiti Malaya (UM).

Dr. Lee Hwok Aun highlights five main themes that would be the perspectives and policy directions to eradicate discrimination and to promote the development of diversity. The main themes include examining the policy based on a human rights based approach to development, breaking the deadlock of mutual accusation and being self-critical, focusing on policies based on socioeconomic background as a replacement for race-based policies, prohibiting unfair discrimination and promoting diversity and to promote “blindness” and consciousness in examining a person’s racial and ethnic identity.

WTF 5428

Dr. Lee Hwok Aun sharing his thoughts on the perspectives and directions to eradicate discrimination

Mr. Tawfik Tun Ismail highlighted that Group 25 (G25) was created because of the concern of extremism which has caused a great view of uncertainty. This is because of the encroachment of the constitution by the religious authorities on matters such as personal freedom. G25 is asking for a rational dialogue on all parties concerned to iron out differences and uncertainties to form a multi-racial country. He also stressed that the government should form a National Consultative Council to look at the issue of the encroachment of the constitution.

WTF 5445

Mr. Tawfik Tun Ismail addressing the crowd on what are the citizens initiatives to eradicate discrimination.

Lastly, Mr. Jerald Joseph stressed the importance of discussing taboo topics in reclaiming the nation. It cannot be only allowed to be spoken by the elites and has to be discussed by the people to form a greater understanding on such difficult topics. He also highlighted how the indigenous people teaches us about the spirit of inclusiveness. The indigenous people did not kick us out from the country neither did they ask us to leave the country. If the indigenous people is able to embrace inclusiveness and co-habiting with people from other races, why can’t we do the same? He also highlighted that this land belongs to all and not to a particular race only.

WTF 5451

Mr. Jerald Joseph addressing the crowd on the importance of discussing taboo topics in reclaiming the nation.

Key concerns from the floor

Overall, the members of the floor raised concerns on what can be done to remove race-based politics in our political system today. On top of that, the indigenous people have also highlighted and expressed their dissatisfaction in political parties for excluding the indigenous people and only focus on the main races in the country. It was also shared that more efforts have to be made by the government to educate and inform the people about the current situation of racism in the country. More efforts are needed to combat racism.

Closing

In the closing, the delegates believed that there is a need to show racism the red card in Malaysia. To achieve a country where everyone shares an equal place in the sun, we need to first identify ourselves as Malaysians and not by their own race.