The government should introduce the Race Relations Act and the Sex Discrimination Act to ensure that discrimination in job opportunities is not practised both in the public and private sectors.

In making the call, DAP national labour bureau chief A Sivanesan said, “This move will ensure that only qualified Malaysians are hired.”

“At present, there are no mechanisms to ensure the best applicants are selected for these two sectors.

corpse snatching general hospital case 301106 a sivanesan “The Malays complain that they are being sidelined by the Chinese in the private sector while the Chinese and Indians feel left out in job opportunities in the civil service sector,” lamented Sivanesan.

He said that by implementing a Race Relations Act, all Malaysians will be given equal opportunities in both sectors.

Sivanesan, who is Sungkai assemblyperson and Perak DAP vice-chairman, also highlighted the plight of women who are often sidelined for promotions.

“This form of discrimination against women will be addressed when the Sex Discrimination Act is implemented,” he said.

According to him, women form 65 percent of the teaching professionals but few could be seen occupying top posts.

Give true meaning to ‘1Malaysia’

Sivanesan cited England as an example where the Race Relations Act and Sex Discrimination Act were introduced to ensure that its citizens would get jobs based on meritocracy.

“Does the Barisan Nasional federal government have the political will to implement both these two acts to give true meaning to the 1Malaysia concept as preached by (Premier) Najib (Abdul Razak)?” he asked.

Sivanesan claimed that the implementation of these two acts would ensure a more efficient civil service in Malaysia.

“The Barisan government has to change its mindset of only looking after the interests of one particular race and ignoring the other races who are also Malaysians,” he alleged.

According to the DAP leader, Pakatan Rakyat has resolved to introduce the Race Relations Act to ensure that every qualified Malaysian irrespective of race is ensured a job in the civil sector if it takes control of the federal government in the 13th general election.

At its first convention two weeks ago, the opposition coalition has also vowed to implement an Equal Opportunity Act should it be voted into power.