Unity Ministry needs more power, funds to function - lawyer

Summary

• Lawyer Andrew Khoo says more funds and power are needed for the National Unity Ministry to act on cases related to race and religion.

• Khoo questions the government’s priority on national unity, with Jakim allocated a budget nearly three times the amount of the entire ministry.

A lawyer today drew parallels between funding for the National Unity Ministry and the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) to question the government’s commitment to addressing race and religion issues.

Specifically, lawyer Andrew Khoo cited allocations under Budget 2025 - RM711 million for the entire National Unity Ministry, in comparison to RM2 billion for Jakim under the Prime Minister's Department.

“So, what is the priority of the Madani government when it comes to race, religion and national unity when they gave Jakim nearly three times what the ministry gets?

“There is a need for power and funding for the National Unity Ministry,” said Khoo (above), who attended Pusat Komas’ launch of the annual Malaysia Racism Report 2024 in Petaling Jaya today.

“There is no point saying the ministry wants to do this and that, if it doesn’t have the funds, resources, or authority,” he added during a question-and-answer session after the launch.

He was responding to National Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang’s speech in launching the report. However, the minister left the Petaling Jaya Community Library before the question-and-answer session was held.

Khoo noted that the limited resources and power could have contributed to Aaron’s lack of public engagement, as it was not the first time that he attended an event where the minister left immediately after the official ceremony.

Report’s recommendations

Among the report’s recommendations include the enactment of an Anti-Racial Discrimination Act and the establishment of an Independent National Harmony Commission.

Khoo, however, argued that any laws or policy changes could involve empowering the National Unity Ministry to act on cases related to race and religion, while at the same reduce current jurisdictions of other ministries.

“I am wondering whether in addition to the alternative new laws, there’s a way to take some jurisdictions away from the home ministry, away from some other ministries, and parked under the national unity ministry so it is more empowered to deal with things like hate speech.

“Not everything has to go to the end of security-related laws or must go through the home ministry

“Maybe some of the immediate task force can come and mediate a racial-related incident,” he added.

Previously, Aaron explained that enforcement powers and legal action fall under the jurisdiction of the Home Ministry, the police force, the Communications Ministry, and the MCMC – but not the National Unity Ministry.

He also cited the existing laws and penal code provisions to dismiss the need to enact a separate anti-discrimination law.

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