Public Forum on Institutionalized Racism in Malaysia ~ M4H01067.MP4
Channel: LaraBaizura
Date: 17/01/2012

Public Forum on Institutionalized Racism in Malaysia 
by HINDRAF and KL Chinese Assembly Hall Civil Rights Committee

Forum venue: KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, KL 

Date: 17th of January 2012 at 7.30 pm.

The speakers were:
1) Mr N. Ganesan - National Advisor to Hindraf
http://hindraf.org
2) Dr Kua Kia Soong - Director Suaram
http://suaram.net
3) Assoc. Prof. Dr Azmi Sharom - Law Lecturer and Activist
http://azmisharom.blogspot.com

Chaired by:
Dr Lim Teck Ghee - Director, Centre for Policy Initiatives
http://english.cpiasia.net

Racism in Malaysia is developing into a subtle, pervasive and increasingly aggressive form of racism. 

What started as a defensive affirmative action program is now fast degenerating into an aggressive form of institutionalized racism. This is sapping the potential of Malaysian society. The future on this trajectory is disastrous for all Malaysians. It will bring ruin to all of us.

The political, legal and administrative structures of our country -- the anchors and sources of this institutionalization need to be fundamentally revamped. For this to happen, the public view of what is truly happening must become sharper. This is not an easy task - given the resources at hand for the beneficiaries of this racist system. 

Public opinion must first be aligned with this developing reality, before any change can happen. With the kaleidoscope with which we all view Malaysia the perceived reality now, is not disturbing enough to galvanize people to action. This needs to be addressed.

HINDRAF and the Civil Rights Committee (CRC) of the KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall are taking upon themselves to educate the public to address the needed paradigm shift . Together we embark on the first of a series of fora to highlight and educate about the structures and processes that entrench racism into our system, the impact to the nation and to the future of the nation if this is all left unchecked. And also to inform of some early stage activities in this respect.

This is the first time this topic is being broached in a public forum. We wish to push this topic into the foreground of political discourse in our country. -- in its barest from. This is part of the campaign of HINDRAF and CRC to bring an end to racism in the country. We have been browbeaten to accept the status quo of this racist regime -- but it only continues to reduce us as a people and as a nation. It is time we stood up and said no to institutional racism and begin the process of change.