Pusat KOMAS urges independent preacher, Zamri Vinoth, to stop his recent campaign against what he deems “illegal temples”, following reports that he is the coordinator of the “Anti-Illegal Worship House Movement” (Gerakan Anti Kuil Haram) and is planning a rally near...
Pusat KOMAS strongly condemns UMNO Youth Chief Datuk Dr. Akmal Salleh’s recent vow to “fight DAP to the very end” during his speech at UMNO Youth General Assembly yesterday. This statement is a blatant political posturing that inevitably casts Malaysia’s non-Malay...
Think Centre, FORUM-ASIA, SUARAM and Pusat Komas | 26 September 2025 Today, Think Centre, FORUM-ASIA, SUARAM and Pusat Komas jointly express our deep regret and strong condemnation of the execution of Malaysian national Mr. Datchinamurthy Kataiah at Changi Prison,...
The Coalition of Malaysian NGOs in the Universal Periodic Review Process (COMANGO) congratulates Malaysia on its participation in the Fourth Cycle of the Universal Periodic Review* (UPR) in January 2024, where it received 348 recommendations. The recommendations encompass a range of longstanding and emerging issues on civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights and those pertaining to diverse marginalised groups. Of the 348 recommendations, 182 were accepted while 41 were partially...
Pusat KOMAS lauds the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for his bold announcement to dismantle racial barriers in the education sector and guarantees all SPM scorers with 10As and above a spot in matriculation programmes offered by the Education Ministry. We applaude the announcement as it is the first step towards recognising our top talents by giving them guarantees to pre-university education in Malaysia based on merits rather than race. In the past, the matriculation programme has...
Pusat KOMAS is deeply concerned by the recent eviction of the Bajau Laut community in Semporna, Sabah. The NGO Borneo Komrad claimed that the Bajau Laut community of Semporna was evicted by the authorities and their stilt houses were demolished. According to its founder Mukmin Nantang, the operation was said to have been carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday against the Bajau Laut community living on seven islands in Semporna, including Pulau Bohey Dulang, Pulau Maiga, Pulau Bodgaya, Pulau...
We, Pusat KOMAS, are deeply concerned by the recent protests at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) against the potential inclusion of non-Bumiputera students in selected programmes. While we acknowledge the historical context and intent behind UiTM's establishment, we believe that the current calls to maintain Bumiputera exclusivity in all programs are not in line with the evolving needs of our nation. Malaysia is facing a critical shortage of specialists, particularly in fields like...
Today marks 55 years since May 13, 1969. The racial riots remain a truly traumatic experience for our young nation. While there is a generation of Malaysians who did not live through the incident, many of us still bear its open wounds to this day, with mere mentions of the May 13 riots striking fear into the hearts of Malaysians. On this day, Pusat KOMAS reminds the rakyat of how this narrative of fear has divided our country. In 2024, it is sad to see Malaysians continue to be held ransom by...
Pusat Komas is deeply concerned about recent racially-charged comments made by newly-established local fast food restaurant DarSa Fried Chicken, which drew criticism for its use of the race card. We, Pusat KOMAS, back DAP vice-chairperson Teresa Kok’s calls for de-escalation over this latest incident in a string of issues tied to race and religion that have plagued the nation in the last few months. In an online apology last night, DarSa Fried Chicken, which describes itself as “100 percent...
Pusat KOMAS would like to refer to the Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's stance on affirmative action policies in Malaysia as it reflects a nuanced understanding of the issues surrounding poverty, education, and socio-economic disparities. His assertion that assistance should be based on need rather than solely on race is a step in the right direction towards a more inclusive and fair approach to uplifting marginalised communities. By emphasising that poverty is not inherently tied to race and...
Pusat KOMAS welcomes the statement made by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said over the government’s plan to introduce a new legislation to regulate the use of 3R (Race, Royalty and Religion) to promote unity in Malaysia. For far too long, Malaysia has been entangled with the plight of the use of 3R on two separate levels: Politicians and political parties using 3R to monger fear amongst the rakyat for their own...
Joint Statement delivered by the CSOs with Consultative Status with AICHR on the 37th AICHR Meeting 26 May 2023, Bali, Indonesia We, the civil society organisations (CSOs) with consultative status with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), extend our sincere appreciation to the Chair of AICHR, H.E. Yuyun Wahyuningrum and excellencies representatives of ASEAN Member States to AICHR. We commend the space and opportunity provided to engage in a dialogue with civil...
As we commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Pusat KOMAS stands in solidarity with all victims of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia around the world. Racism, xenophobia and related discrimination and intolerance exist in all societies. It harms not just the lives of those who endure it, but the society as a whole. In Malaysia, the surge of the incidents of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia has created grave concerns in our nation...