Time to set up a Ministry of Minority Affairs

Newsflash:

Time to set up a Ministry of Minority Affairs

Written by Dr. Lim Teck Ghee Friday, 04 January 2013 09:19

Commentary

minority-report As we begin a new year, a rash of old issues and challenges confront the country. Chief amongst them are racial and religious tensions and a rising sense of marginalization and alienation among our minority communities while at the same time the majority community feels threatened and insecure.

Many of these problems are deeply entrenched. Their effects are no longer confined to a small part of our body politic or emerge as isolated and unconnected events. They have infiltrated into all sectors of society and cast a shadow in the life of every Malaysian – in our everyday thought processes, in our consciousness and in our actions.

The problems that are associated with the ethnic and religious divide between Malays and non-Malays and between Muslims and non-Muslims will not be resolved quickly. There is no magical remedy.

Many of these problems stem from our seriously weakened social cohesion and the growing disunity that our nation has experienced during the past four decades. The intangible but potent glue of harmony, sense of community and commitment to realizing the common good that binds countries and their people together has long broken down in Malaysia.

The start of a new year is a good time to spend pondering on how to recover this spirit of lost social cohesion and to focus on what can be done to rebuild it.

Addressing the plight of small minorities

The sense of alienation and marginalization is most palpable among Indian, Orang Asli and other small minority communities. Although some members of these groups can make their way up the socio-economic ladder with their own resources, nonetheless many of the rest are wallowing in poverty and deprivation. They will require a special helping hand if they are able to ever escape from the straitjacket of impoverishment and stagnation.

As the race-oriented New Economic Policy is jettisoned in place of a new national policy paradigm based on need and not race, how do we ensure that these groups –which have badly lagged behind other communities in every single important indicator of development and wellbeing – do not lose out again in the implementation of the New Economic Model during the next decade?

How do we guarantee that poor and needy members of small minority communities will be scrupulously and fairly targeted for assistance and do not disappear or are lost sight of in our national agenda of development that will be inevitably dominated by the concerns of the dominant Malay, and to some extent, the Chinese community?

To undo the negative impact of decades of government neglect and discrimination against the smaller minority communities as well as to steer a new path for social cohesion and social justice that will embrace all Malaysians, it may be necessary to establish a new Ministry that can mobilize and lead future efforts in the public sector aimed at improving the life prospects of downtrodden minority Malaysians.

Hindraf’s blueprint

Two months ago, to mark the fifth anniversary of the movement’s rally in KLCC on Nov 25, 2007 – the event which precipitated a new dawn of political consciousness in Malaysia – Hindraf unveiled a blueprint proposing solutions to overcome the plight of ethnic Indian community, especially the 800,000 displaced estate workers and 350,000 stateless Indians.

Towards the end of the blueprint document is a proposal to establish a Ministry of Minority Affairs that would plan and execute development efforts to address the educational, housing, resettlement and employment needs of marginalized Indians.

This proposal to set up an entirely new Ministry may seem like an inappropriate one, coming at a time when the efficiency and efficacy of a bloated civil service has come under severe public scrutiny and censure.

However, it is in my view worthy of serious consideration by the Barisan and Pakatan parties, whichever coalition comes to power in the coming elections.

Justification for the new Ministry

The justification for establishing an entirely new Ministry devoted to the smaller minorities is compelling. Numerous studies have established that relations between and within communities suffer when people lack work and endure hardship, debt, low esteem, poor skills and bad living conditions. These basic necessities of life are the foundations of a strong social fabric but are lacking for many in the smaller minority communities.

Also, unlike the Malay and Chinese communities that dominate our public and private sectors, Malaysia’s small minority communities lack the resources and clout to compete for the opportunities ostensibly available to all stakeholders in our economy and society.

Already marginalized, when left to fend for themselves in the future, they are likely to fall further behind as the competition for scarce resources becomes more intense.

How much will it cost?

During the past ten Malaysia Development Plans, a total sum of over one trillion ringgit was spent. Little of this development expenditure was committed towards or trickled down to the smaller minorities (see table).

Development Expenditure for 10 Malaysia Plans Total: RM1.155 trillion
Ninth Malaysia Plan	2006-10	RM230 billion
Eighth Malaysia Plan	2001-05	RM253 billion
Seventh Malaysia Plan	1996-2000	RM222 billion
Sixth Malaysia Plan	1991-95	RM104 billion
Fifth Malaysia Plan	1986-90	RM62 billion
Fourth Malaysia Plan	1981-85	RM28 billion
Third Malaysia Plan	1976-80	RM18.6 billion
Second Malaysia Plan	1971-75	RM7.25 billion
First Malaysia Plan	1965-70	RM4.5 billion

Hindraf has estimated that a small fraction of this massive expenditure – RM25 billion – provided to the new Ministry will provide the first ditch effort to permanently improve the life of marginalized Indians. The cost for uplifting the conditions and life chances of other minorities will be more modest.

The total bill for improving the life chances of marginalized Indians, Orang Asli and others and restoring dignity and a sense of belonging to the smaller minorities is a price the country can well afford. But is the political will there – in either Barisan or Pakatan parties – to take this small step forward in what could lead to a momentous paradigm shift in our journey towards a fair, just and compassionate society?

A just multi-ethnic society is judged by how fairly it treats its smallest minority communities and provides them with access to opportunities that can improve their material circumstances and future life chances.

In India, the Government recently established a Ministry of Minority Affairs in 2006 as the apex body for the central government's regulatory and developmental programmes for the minority communities which include Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists and Zoroastrians identified as minority communities under Section 2 (c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. Other countries which have established similar Ministries include Pakistan and Israel.

We should do no less in Malaysia.

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Comments (11)

12-01-2013 | Raj

@DOPE

Dr Lim is talking of a mechanism withing the governance that can help address issues concerning minority, you are talking of a independent agency that can challenge or question government discrimination.

These are 2 separate platforms with different agendas. It is obvious that your intend is to question the Malays right. This is not possible because it's in the constitution to protect the Malays and indigenous groups.

You raised on the 1 Malaysia share. I support the "Quota" segregation because the poor Malays and Indians will not have a chance to purchase. On first day itself all sold-out!!!.

I only managed to land my hands on it, after the Indian quotas were set aside.

The bottomline (as with yours) is economic prosperity. So, lets create a seperate Ministry that looks into discrimination and abuse against minority - in particular that which marginalises towards Poverty and Human Rights.

Leave the capitalistic market forces debate out, for once.

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06-01-2013 | Francis Ngu - A Service Commission with vested powers

Indeed, and more, perhaps a Commission for Indigenous Affairs, headed by qualified indigenous people and adequately funded and empowered to embark on social and economic betterment projects.
A Commission would operate independent of the mainstream civil service bureaucracy.

It ought in the first place be empowered to grant citizenship to stateless minority people, surely the most marginalised of the minorities. In Sarawak, a Dayaks-led authrity should be empowered to designate who is or is not a "Dayak", not the NRID.

This is by no means to be the sole policy prong for improving the lot of indigenous people. Indeed, returning the natural resources wealth of Sabah and Sarawak to their people would be of paramount importance. Would either a dedicated Ministry or Service Commission, be up to this mission of justice to the peoples of the 2 eastern states and canvass vigorously for the natives ? Kuching.

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05-01-2013 | Ronald

This is a fantastic idea. Thank you Dr Lim for supporting the idea. Someone should take responsibility for the issues and the Ministry would be the best solution.

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05-01-2013 | pywong

Dear Dope,

"trying to buy Amanah Saham 1Malaysia shares for over a year."

Why are you financing a racist regime that oppresses the minorities? If Malaysia goes bankrupt, your shares become toilet paper. Better buy gold. You will be better off. Read more here http://www.tindakmalaysia.com/forumdisplay.php/134 -Top-Posts

Change Ministry: The proper body is called the Ombudsman. See Goal no. 3 of 19 in the MERP - http://bit.ly/RsevdY

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05-01-2013 | N.Ganesan

One other significant assumption of the Ministry of minority affairs is its approach to targetted development.

The objective of such a ministry is clearly to bring the marginalized communities into the mainstream if national development.in a short span of time. This is best achieved by a focused and dedicated approach, rather than by a trickle down approach. Focussed in rsponsibility and authority, dedicated in budegetary allocations to operate in an empowered fashion.

The other significant prerequisite for success of such targeted development is the depth of understanding of the dynamics that drive socio-economic developmentof of the minority communities concerned . The history of the community , the current stages of development of different communities and the operating social processes will require different approaches. What is applied to the Indian community will certainly be different than what will be appropriate for the orang asal or the orang asli communities. Therefore empowerment of the development effort based on a very deep understanding of the dynamics that drive development within each targeted community is of vital importance. Superficially conceived efforts are bound to fail.

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05-01-2013 | N.Ganesan - Paradigma change required

If we look at what Dr Lim through the glasses of the current paradigm, surely it may appear to be a lost cause even before we get started. Now consider Dr Lim's suggestion through a forward looking paradigm:

1) A government with national interest at heart. Read "national" to mean people. So a people oriented paradigm in government will mean empowered Ministry run by the leading members of the minority community, with support not hampering from the cogs of government

2) A bureaucracy that is not racist, that operates in the national interest and not in the interest of the elite.

4) Equal opportunity for every citizen to realize their fullest potential.This is the ultimate goal and for a while historically neglected minorities are treated with assistance till they can be let go -like riding a bicycle. If the government had national interest at heart, all these will be natural programs of nurturing to bring out the fullest in every citizen

In summary, this implies that Government has to become a more people orientated government than an elite orientated government, which is what it is today. When this happens The Ministry of minority affairs and more will be possible.

This is the paradigm by which to interpret Dr Lim's suggestion. So, we all have to work to put in place a people orientated government and should work actively at it remaining so and devloping on the people orientation over time to develop Maaysia economically, politically and socially.

We must all look at the merits and significant positive implications of Dr Lim's suggestion, not at the secondary problems that have to be solved to attain the goodness in the solution.

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04-01-2013 | Burkinafaso - It's all Being positive

I do Agree with Dr.Lim.
If we do not atleast try we would not even know if it would work. 1 countries failure does not mean it will fail in our country. We as human we learn from mistakes and improvise.We cannot and should use the 1 size fits all mentality. Geographically we are different and even the people are different.

Changing the mentally would be a tough thing to do since the mentality has been washed for the last 22 years rule of political Wizard.However changing the government is possible and that is the right of every Malaysian that cannot be denied.

There is nothing wrong in trying.Lets try if it doesn't work that we see how we can do better. We are all doing this for our children and grandchildren. The minorities are human as well they are Malaysians as well is it wrong for them to dream to have better future for their children and grandchildren.

As DR. Lim pointed out, they have been neglected for a long time. It does not hurt to help them as part of our social responsibility.

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04-01-2013 | hamidi - I support this

I am of mixed parentage and fully agree with the proposal. It is high time that the small minorities (including of mixed blood) get their fair share and do not get screwed up as has happened. This Ministry can prove to the world that the Government is really serious about practicing equality. Without it, Najib can make a million speeches about 1Malaysia but they will not mean anything.

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04-01-2013 | Steve Oh

I am not convinced that establishing another category of bureaucrats and throwing money at the problem of poverty and backwardness is the solution unless the system itself and the people that run it are competent, committed and above all incorruptible.

For example in Australia state and Federal governments have an aboriginal ministry with a Cabinet minister overseeing substantial budgets to develop the Aboriginal communities spread all over Australia.

By and large the Aboriginal population still suffers from problems associated with minorities elsewhere eg lower rates of literacy, shorter life spans, reliance on social welfare, domestic violence and so on. And these problems seem insurmountable despite former PM John Howard's interervention - an attempt by the Federal government at social engineering to save the aboriginal communities affected from social collapse.

While I wouldn't dismiss the idea for larger populations the Malaysian solution eg NEP has failed the minorities because it never had them in mind from the start. And over the years corruption put paid to policies not based entirely on economic criteria but race and political largesse.

In another instance the failure of race- based political parties I.e.MIC to advance the welfare of their ethnic constituencies because their leaders were allegedly enriching themselves rather than their communities is reason why development based on race for the race is not fool-proof.

A comprehensive plan based on economic needs regardless of race may be the better solution and this blanket approach may help diminish the problems of racial segregation in the country.

We have not yet seen the NEP properly executed and until we have a government committed to every Malaysian I guess the problem is not the vehicle but the one in the driver's seat.

But whatever the means the end as I agree with the writer must be that for example in the case of the Tamils immediate allocation of funds that will be properly administered for the benefit of the neglected Tamil community and others in our journey toward a more equitable and compassionate society.

Perhaps we need a Ministry of Love and Compassion more than anything else.

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04-01-2013 | najib manaukau - najib manaukau

In Malaysia the number of supporters of the ruling party will determine if their interest will be looked into and protected. Sorry as minority any hope of being looked after is wishful thinking, just keep hoping and dreaming !
Malaysia do not have a peoples' government but have a government that looks after the foreign bank accounts of the warlords of Umno !
That has been going on for decades now and if you want change then kick the scumbags and parasites out of Putrajaya in the coming GE !

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04-01-2013 | DOPE - Minority Ministry will forever be Minority Voice

Dr Lim,

Setting up a Ministry of Minority Affairs is not the answer. Even the name itself suggests it will fail from Day 1, especially in Malaysia where minority discrimination is a way of life.

This Ministry will be a "minority" Minsitry, with minority power and influence.

We already have many minority institutions including political parties like MCA, MIC, Gerakan etc who form the minority and will therefore forever be a minority.

The solution is to change the mindset of all Ministries. We should have a CHANGE MINISTRY, enpowered to do that. Their function is to challenge every government decision that victimises minorities.

For example I have been trying to buy Amanah Saham 1Malaysia shares for over a year but they tell me only BUMI lots are available so I am not eligible to buy. The irony is they call it the "1"Malaysian share, when even the sale is based on racial segregation.

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