KUALA LUMPUR – Retired servicemen NGO the National Patriot Association (Patriot) called upon the government to reset education policies, in a bid to stop discrimination against non-Bumiputera students in public schools.
Citing a survey titled “Discrimination in Education Survey”, which revealed that one in two Malaysians face discrimination in schools and that nine out of 10 ethnic Indian respondents said they felt discriminated in schools because of their ethnicity, its president Brig-Jen (Rtd) Datuk Mohamed Arshad Raji said the matter must be immediately addressed by the Education Ministry.
Arshad said that with 64 years of independent nationhood, there is absolutely no reason or space for racial discrimination in schools.
“As the country marks its 58th Malaysia Day anniversary with a clarion call for unity among Malaysians of all races, religion, ages, and social status, the report exposes the reality of a crisis mode that cannot be swept under the carpet.
“The truth that must be addressed without politicising is that the country has been saddled with such discriminations against non-Bumiputeras, knowingly or otherwise, not only in schools but reportedly in all other government institutions, ministries, and departments.
“One does not need to do a survey to realise the extent of discrimination being practiced at all levels of government. We need moral courage to face the truth if we want a truly united nation of people to build this country,” he said in a statement.
The nationwide survey ran from September 1-10, with a total of 2,441 respondents answering the survey in English, Bahasa Malaysia, or Mandarin.
The survey revealed that 54% of ethnic Indian respondents reported they experienced verbal discrimination and 40% of them said that they were denied access to opportunities compared to other racial groups.
In the same subset, the survey found Indian respondents were more likely to attribute their experience of perceived discrimination to teachers (74%).
Non-Bumiputera respondents (Chinese 36%; Indian 40%) reported greater perceived discrimination from government policies in education than Bumiputera respondents (Malay 15%; other Bumiputera 23%).
Arshad said that the survey clearly echoes how the nation has lost the plot to remain and profit from a united citizenry free of discriminations.
“If the report is found to be true to the letter, without fear or favour, then in no uncertain terms Patriot states it is a serious handicap to our national efforts to treat citizens of the country regardless of race and religion equally and fairly, free from any form of prejudice, or malafide political expediencies.
“School-going children of all races and religions are our future assets, and they must be imbued with the spirit of patriotism in their formative age. They must be taught to live together as one Malaysian race and not to be identified by race, religion, or the colour of their skin,” he said.
He took note that the published findings were a clear indicator that Malaysia’s “failed education system” is in a “crisis mode”.
The retired soldier stressed that the country needs to reset its education policies to “specifically tackle” any attempt by school authorities and Education Ministry officials trying to practice discrimination or impose any form of prejudice on non-Bumiputera students.
He also noted that negative discrimination can certainly produce undesirable elements as students leave school.
Arshad demanded that the matter be debated in Parliament, as the public needs answers.
“Patriot demands for immediate action to be instituted. Fact finding must be executed and the expose in the report must be addressed. Only then can the public regain their confidence in our education system and the ministry, and trust our leaders.
“You cannot keep preaching and making slogan-laced calls for unity when fundamentals are now highly questionable,” he said. – The Vibes, September 17, 202
