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While the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) started off as a good idea, it is quickly becoming a toothless tiger.

Reading through the proposed bills that the council is pushing forth, there is no clear direction on how these three bills would weed out institutionalised racism.

For one thing, it mentions nothing on the ending of discrimination based on race in both job opportunities or rental.

With housing prices now estimated to grow 8 percent year-on-year, renting will be the way to live for the middle income earners. Just how exactly, then, would the NUCC push forward with an agenda to stop discrimination in renting out property?

And trust me, the discrimination is clear cut whenever one puts a notice for an apartment or condominium unit with a simple note such as "Chinese only" or "Malay Muslim only".

Similarly, why does the NUCC not push for their bills to stop racial discrimination in job applications?

For example, why does a telco kiosk need a "Mandarin speaking only" sales team?

These subliminally racist elements are thriving in our country, and it seems that the NUCC is purely targeting political rhetoric instead of the needs of Malaysians at large.

These are the people who aside from politics require immediate attention, and the NUCC seems to care nothing for this matter.

However, there are signs that the council is truly trying to deal with this matter in a quiet manner through the National Unity Bill Sections (7) and (10). If this is the case, then perhaps we should ask the NUCC to be crystal clear on the matter.

If this law is enacted, then can Malaysians finally take these racially preferring employers and landlords to court?

It is an open question that I truly hope the Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Rawa can answer openly before the bills reach the floor of Parliament for debate.

If this is truly the case, then perhaps Malaysia can finally say farewell to the basic level of institutionalized racism as well as those spewed by the non-government organisations and some of our leaders.

The NUCC is truly a brilliant idea with a vision worth supporting. However, its major determination factor of effectiveness will only be determined by how much it can take action against racial preference when it comes to the daily lives of Malaysians.

Until then, the NUCC is purely a show, a toothless tiger which only has a goal in stopping politicians from spewing racial hatred, letting the true grass root racists, the source of the problem, to continue.

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