The Fragile Status of Unprotected Minority Classes in Malaysia

Racial inequality is a form of discrimination that is still prevalent in the modern day throughout the world. This is because of the absence of laws to protect vulnerable classes of people who are frequently excluded from participation in the economy, marginalized in relation to opportunities to pursue education etc. In Malaysia, the fragile status of unprotected minority classes, specifically the people of Indian / Sri Lankan ethnicity is glaringly conspicuous. This is a race of people who are particularly vulnerable as they are sandwiched between the frequently feuding two majority races - Malay and Chinese peoples. Statistics obtained from Malaysia will shamefully reveal the level at which this class of citizens are excluded in participation in the economy in all spheres. It is an ongoing dire daily struggle for survival for these people. They are largely left to fend for themselves and if poverty is a feature of their lives, then this naturally further complicates their struggle for basic survival in a country where the two majority races are seen to have a stronghold of the economy and each of whom practice policies which favour their own respective races, thereby marginalizing this minority race of people. This book reveals some very disturbing facts about the manner in which racial inequality deprives minority citizens from living a life of dignity where there is an absence of a 'level playing field' and where the criteria of 'merit' in the selection process is often trumped by policies that promote racism. The accounts given in this book are true details of the manner in which racism is perpetrated upon the Indian / Sri Lankan people of minority ethnicity in Malaysia. The fact that Malaysia has not ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination ['ICERD'], places this class of people in a continuously vulnerable position. The Malaysian version of racism is rather unique as laws and practices which seek to protect the two majority races are prevalent. This is in contrast to most other countries where there are clearly defined laws in place to protect and safeguard minority classes of people.