Race Relation Act

The decision by the Cabinet to drop the idea of introducing a Race Relations Act to ensure better racial ties among multi-racial Malaysians is sensible and appropriate.

When the idea was first mooted, my immediate reaction was that it is pretty awkward for us to legislate on race relations in the country 51 years after independence.

If at all race relations in our country today is not in the best state of health or is not in good shape then what is urgently required is to undertake a thorough and no-holes barred study into the problem.

Why is it that after 51 years of independence, race relations in the country has deteriorated instead of being advanced?

We need to do some serious soul-searching and find out the root cause of our unsatisfactory state of race relations.

Could it be that the problem is caused or aggravated by racial outbursts among certain irresponsible politicians whose unwarranted comments have created more divisiveness instead of unity among the people.

There should be no place for racial prejudices and stereotypes in a multiracial society like ours.

Introducing a law to legislate race relations is certainly not the answer.

Instead of having a Race Relations Act, what we should have instead is a Race Relations Institute to conduct study, research and contribute ideas and programme towards strengthening race relations for the purpose of achieving unity.

I have always maintained that it is inappropriate to legislate for the purpose of managing race-relations to promote inter-racial harmony and unity.

It must always be borne in mind that goodwill, harmony and unity cannot be achieved through legislation.

Managing race relations must first start with the individual. If there is goodwill, harmony and unity in a person’s thoughts, emotions and actions, it will be reflected in how he or she treats others.

Those who are concerned about race-relations and unity in our multiracial country should reflect on a comment made in Nov 2006 by the Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Dr. Nazrin when he said that the most enduring way to establish good race relations is the need for Malaysians of different races and religions to “cultivate mutual understanding and genuine respect for each other.”

His very words “the recognition that we are all God’s creation and that each deserves to be treated with dignity” is indeed most fundamental and appropriate.