your say 'There is no need for the EOC provided racism is outlawed in this country, notwithstanding affirmative actions based on needs and not race.'

Don: No need for Equal Opportunity Commission

David Dass: International Islamic University law professor Abdul Aziz Bari is an intriguing personality. He has been consistent in his views, unafraid to express his opinions on law and society boldly. He does not try to play the safe political game by couching his views in ambiguous terms thus giving him room to explain away a controversial interpretation of a view attributed to him.

Is the Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) necessary? Will it serve its intended purpose? Is our bureaucracy already too bloated? Must the problem be dealt with by a root-and-branch solution rather than another layer of bureaucracy? Is it true that we already have too many commissions?

Should we be wary of 'gimmicks' as the professor cautions? What are the 'impediments and restraints' that he speaks of residing in ‘archaic and draconian laws'?

Swipenter: Is the Umno-dominated government playing fair, acting with equanimity and paying any attention to the federal constitution except for a few clauses that deal with the special position of the Malay rulers, Malays and Islam without manipulating them for their political agenda and personal selfish interests?

Article 8 is never mentioned by Umno/BN, Perkasa, Pembela, Mahathir Mohamad, etc, but they shout on top of their voices about Article 153, the numerical superiority of the Malays and the official status of Islam whenever the minorities fight against institutionalised racism and religious bigotry to be recognised as equal citizens in their own country.

I agree with the good professor that there is no need for the EOC provided racism is outlawed in this country, notwithstanding affirmative actions based on needs and not race.

Onyourtoes: When the intention is not right, when the overarching policy is to discriminate, dissect and categorise citizens into classes, no amount of institutions is likely to make any difference.

Sorry, we form a Human Rights Commission but what do we get - a mouthpiece to rationalise and explain violation and infringement of human rights. We upgrade ACA to MACC and formed numerous oversight panels, what did we get at the end?

We formed Port Klang Free Zone and what we got was a RM12 billion ringgit scandal. We formed Agro Bank, Infrastructure Bank, SME Bank, Bank Industri, Bank Simpanan Nasional, but who did we help, how viable were these lending, and who ultimately provided the funding for all these banks? The baloney never ends.

Tuah PJ: It's easy for Aziz Bari to say that the EOC is not necessary because he belongs to the 'favoured' race. I bet the learned professor had it easy getting into university and getting all the scholarships and what not to achieve his current position (although not wasted on him and he is deserving of it from what I have noted of his opinions and thoughts).

Most probably, the learned professor is not aware of the hardship the other communities face in getting a decent tertiary education or even a decent job in the public and private sectors, especially GLCs (government-linked companies).

Shamugam Karupiah: I would like to think that most people expressing opinions here are reasonably educated and subscribe to democratic principles. As such, when debating an issue, please avoid personal attacks, degrading comments on race and religion.

I disagree with the professor's view but that does not mean I should get personal. Instead I should counter his view with factual argument. We Malaysians need to grow up and learn to respect differing views.

Back to the topic of discussion, I beg to differ from Aziz Bari's view and support PJ Utara MP Tony Pua's stand on this matter.

In the event such a commission is set up, it should not just focus on public sector but also the private sector. The private sector is not free from discriminative practices. In fact, the lack of equal opportunity in private sector is equally bad.

ConcernedMsian: Try applying for government contracts, try getting government scholarships, try applying for jobs in civil service, for example, those in local authorities (engineering, building, planning) and land offices (technical assistants), in JKR (Public Works Department) and IWK (Indah Water Konsortium).

Try getting licences to operate at public school canteens, PLUS highways canteens, KLCC food courts. Where are the equal opportunities?

Quigonbond: The whole idea is for the EOC to be armed to the teeth so that it can enforce fairness. The provisions have been in the federal constitution for ages, but it's not like BN government is keen on exploiting that. Rather, they prefer to exploit special privileges provisions relating to race and religion, stifling our competitiveness globally.

Is Pakatan Rakyat really obsessed with law-based reforms? Well, they should be. The people want to rethink OSA, PPPA, ISA and a whole assortment of oppressive laws. Laws should also be revised to provide for institutionalised checks and balances - MACC, AG's Chambers, police, etc.

It starts with law reform, but it needs an honest implementer to carry through enforcement - that can only come by putting the right people in place, and that in turn can only come with a change of federal government.

M'sia1st: I fully agreed with professor Aziz Bari. Don't waste time and taxpayers money by creating all sort of commissions. More importantly, we must first get rid of those unnecessary laws/acts like ISA, OSA and the like. Then implement what is really written in the constitution, both in letters and spirit. Be fair to all.

And Pakatan don't need to dance to the BN's tune. Pakatan must prove itself to be a better alternative, rather than playing the same card as BN. Aziz Bari is a no-nonsense professor and will criticise both BN and Pakatan. I like him. Keep it up, Prof.

Nicc: Prof Aziz Bari is right. There is room for improvement within the existing constitution without creating unnecessary commissions. Mental shift, that's what this country requires, not more bureaucracy.

 

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