Articles

Pusat KOMAS contemplates and writes about the situation of race, ethnicity, interracial relations etc. in Malaysia.

RACE TO EQUALITY: A pledge to stand up against racial discrimination and hate speech

Human rights NGO Pusat KOMAS launched its maiden virtual run RACE TO EQUALITY in conjunction with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This is a not-for-profit run with a running period from 13 May 2021 to 15 June 2021. Registration for early birds is now open! RACE TO EQUALITY is part of a larger campaign for social cohesion and national unity. Corollary to the campaign for #AkuBangsaMalaysia, this is a call for Malaysians to believe in a Malaysian identity and...

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Positive step but further revisions needed of protest law

Pusat KOMAS and global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, welcome the Malaysian government’s efforts to make amendments to the Peaceful Assembly Act, which regulates public assemblies and protests. While some of the proposed changes to the law appear positive, our organisations are concerned that the legislation still falls short of international human rights law and standards, related to the right to peaceful assembly. The Peaceful Assembly...

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Minister YB Waytha Moorthy Receives Memorandum to Reform the Aboriginal Peoples’ Act 1954 from Pusat KOMAS, Malaysia Bar and Orang Asli Community

The plight of the Orang Asli has long been a focus of Malaysians for decades. The Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 (“APA”) was created to protect the community yet contains provisions that are outdated and may not be applicable nor effective in the contemporary Malaysia today. The APA conferred extraordinary governmental power to control most, if not all, material aspects of Orang Asli lives for the sake of their protection. Such provisions, which may...

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Time for politicians to be disciplined for a better Malaysia

Pusat KOMAS applauds the Inspector-General of Police, Abdul Hamid Bador’s acknowledgment that the rise of racial and religious hatred in the nation today are caused by politicians who were playing the race and religious cards. For far too long, race and religion were used by politicians to “divide and rule” to win the support of the people. Even though the Pakatan Harapan government recognized the severity of the use of race and religion by political opponents to pit one race with the other,...

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Race Relations made worst by Opposition Parties Incitement

Pusat KOMAS is baffled, at the same time amused by Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan or popularly known as Tok Mat's statement blaming the PH government for the deteriorating race-relations in Malaysia. Such statement reflects the ignorance of Tok Mat as well as his counterparts who have constantly been spewing out racial slurs and heavily misusing race and religion as their reliable political tool, reminding us of a Malay simpulan bahasa (proverb) – baling batu sembunyi tangan. It is well known that...

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Be Firm Pakatan Harapan

International Criminal Court (ICC), another international instrument hoped to be the final defensive line to the victims of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes of aggression was withdrawn from the accession of ratification by the very government who was deemed as the torchbearers of democratic reforms. We the undersigned civil society organisations are appalled with the U-turns of Pakatan Harapan (PH) led government who repetitively fail to maintain a strong position to...

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Roundtable discussion calls to address racism in governance and public policies

Pusat KOMAS in collaboration with SUHAKAM Sabah, Institute for Development Studies Sabah with the cooperation of Jabatan Perpaduan Negara dan Integrasi National Sabah, conducted a roundtable discussion in IDS Hall, Wisma Sedia, discussing the potential ways to incorporate International Standards on Non-discrimination for inclusive governance. "Based in Petaling Jaya, Pusat KOMAS is a 25 years-old Non-Governmental Organisation working closely on issues of Non-discrimination and Orang Asli...

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It’s economics, Azmin, not race or religion

The overtones of racial politics or racialised politics are becoming wild and vibrant as it goes under the rays of Malaysia Baru. The knee-jerk reaction of Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali after Pakatan Harapan's loss in Semenyih by-election, to propose for a strong Bumiputera agenda to be carried out by Harapan is perplexing to the hopes envisioned in and for Malaysia Baru. Pusat Komuniti Masyarakat (Komas) is appalled by Azmin’s racial rhetoric. Instead of promoting a new polity...

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Not Again! Racist Advertisements Must Stop!

The recent scholarship advertisement by Pantai Hospital Sungai Petani has drawn criticisms for its preference for people from specific ethnic groups. Pusat KOMAS would like to commend Pantai Hospital Sungai Petani’s swift actions to address the issue. We strongly believe that racial discrimination should not exist in a multi-ethnic nation like Malaysia. Pusat KOMAS believes that such incidences could be avoided if the government had shown its political will and commitment to overcome racism...

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