Racial preferences in a recruitment advertisement by an Old Town White Coffee Malaysia franchisee underscores the need for an anti-discrimination policy, said PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

Although Old Town had apologised, he said the advertisement shows that racial discrimination persists in the employment market, and that this case would go unnoticed had it not been for concerned netizens.

"Perhaps it is forgotten that we have a fundamental right protected under the Federal Constitution to be employed without being discriminated based on race, religion, place of birth or gender.

"However, discrimination is still happening against non-Malays in the public sector and against the non-Chinese within the private sector," he said in a statement.

The Selangor deputy speaker said that as racial discrimination cuts across the board, it is thus imperative for all to support a "just and fair policy" for all Malaysians.

"We must be able to look at the broader perspective with the objective to promote and ensure harmonious living and equal opportunities for all," he said.

Equal Opportunities Act

This is not the first time Nik Nazmi has called on policy against racial discrimination in the employment market.

Last year, he called on Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin (below) to accept his proposal for an Equal Opportunities Act to safeguard all from discrimination.

This was after Khairy at the Umno General Assembly highlighted a Universiti Malaya study which shows that Malays are discriminated against in the private sector.

A Johor Bahru Old Town outlet had in a recruitment advertisement said it preferred Malays and Chinese applicants.

In response to backlash on the internet, Old Town management said the "unacceptable" advertisement was posted without the management’s knowledge and apologised on behalf of the franchisee.

"As a home grown Malaysian brand, we value everyone equally and it has never been our intention or the intention of the Franchisee to make any individuals feel slighted or offended in any way," Oldtown Bhd executive director Clarence Leon D'Silva said in a statement.

The advertisement was also taken down and a warning issued to the franchisee.

He said that franchisees should get approval from Old Town management before publicising anyting to do with the business, but it was not in this incident.

D'Silva also said that standard operating procedures will be tightened and educate franchisees on "choice of words" to ensure that the incident does not recur.