H-Net* Malaysia turning the clock back on race issues

[Concorde]

Opposition leader says Malaysia turning the clock back on race issues KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 (AFP) - Malaysia's opposition leader Monday accused the government of damaging decades of nation-building by deciding to include a reference to religion on identity cards. The decision "is turning the clock back after 42 years of nation-building (since independence from Britain)," said Lim Kit Siang, secretary-general of the Democratic Action Party. Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was quoted Monday as saying there were "no hidden motives, no attempts to discriminate" in the plan. "As you know, the cabinet comprises ministers of various religions and races ... all are satisfied and have given their agreement so it is better that the decision is accepted," the New Straits Times quoted him as saying. A council representing Buddhists, Christians, Hindus and Sikhs has urged the government to reconsider, saying the move could lead to discrimination. Some 100,000 of the new cards have so far been issued. Around half the population are mainly Moslem Malays, with Chinese making up around 30 percent and ethnic Indians 10 percent. Abdullah said last week the idea was to better enforce certain laws. "If the religion is not stated in the IC, it's difficult for authorities to take action when religious issues come up," he said. For instance, he said authorities would find it easier to identify Muslims who enter casinos and amusement centres if religion were included in their identity cards. "In a nation like Malaysia where we have Chinese who look like Malays and Malays who look like Chinese, it will be easy if the religion is included on the identity cards," the New Straits Times Monday quoted him as saying. But Lim called the decision a retrograde step and said people should identify themselves as Malaysians first, above racial, religious, linguistic and cultural differences. He also cited a report in the Sun newspaper of a survey by a University of Malaya professor. This was said to show that 98 percent of Malay students, 99 per cent of Chinese students and 97 percent of Indian students did not mix socially with other races. Lim called the reported findings "a severe indictment" of nation-building policies but said the government seemed bent on highlighting differences through the new ID cards.