Discrimination is wrong, Zaid admits to S’pore Malays
Zaid Ibrahim apologises to Malays in Singapore for failing to see that they are discriminated against in the public and private sector.
(Free Malaysia Today) – Discrimination whether in Malaysia or Singapore cannot be tolerated as there is no justification for it, said former law minister Zaid Ibrahim.
He said this when offering an apology to Singaporean Malays for failing to see they were discriminated against in the public and private sector much like former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had alleged last week.
In his blog today, Zaid explained that when he had remarked earlier that he wouldn’t mind being a Singaporean Malay since they had good, honest leaders; an efficient administration; and good housing and transport policies, he did so without performing “any rigorous study”.
“My main point was about the futility of being ‘first-class’ if you do not get ‘special treatment’ which in my book includes honest leaders, good governance and good policies,” he said when drawing comparisons between Malays in Malaysia versus those in Singapore.
He said however that this remark had not gone down well with many of his readers, with one in particular posting a “spirited response”, telling him Singaporean Malays were marginalised due to “negative stereotyping”. The reader also told him how there were no Malays in prominent academic positions or holding senior ministerial posts unlike Chinese immigrants from Malaysia, Indonesia dan China who were afforded greater opportunities. The reader also pointed out that the so-called “meritocratic Singapore” label which the country had earned, was a lie.
Responding to this reader’s comments, Zaid said affected Singaporeans should take these “grievances” up with their leaders, and added, “Discrimination is not to be tolerated wherever it might be. There is no justification for it at all.”
