Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin is reported to have said that he wanted to ban models with pan-Asian looks from private television channels, newspapers and billboards. His only justification is that models with pan-Asian looks will lead to feelings of inferiority and have psychological impact to those with typical Malaysia features.

Seriously, don't we even have qualified and rational thinking ministers in Malaysia anymore? Does he actually think that Malaysians are so low in self-esteem and immature that billboards and advertisements have so much impact on us?

Now, I'm quite sure there are no factual or scientific research data to back his assertion other than this being his personal opinion that he is trying to turn into a law. In fact, all he has done is demonstrate his deeply-rooted discriminatory beliefs and values based on looks alone, while completely ignoring the fact that these pan-Asian looking models are just as Malaysian as he is, probably even more than he is. I really wonder how this minister would feel if someone says he is banned from his current job because he looks too typical Malaysian?

If indeed the ban becomes a reality, then these unfortunate professional pan-Asian looking models will be out of jobs, not because they're unqualified but just because they were born with the wrong look or perhaps in the wrong country.

I would like to encourage all these affected models to unite and stand up against this discriminatory policy of the Information Ministry. In fact, they should sue the government for unfairly discriminating against them.