Malay party demands end to racism in Singapore

Malay party demands end to racism in Singapore

SINGAPORE (Agencies): A Malay party demanded an end to racial discrimination in Singapore's armed forces and work places on Friday, as the largest newspaper criticized Indonesian President B.J. Habibie for accusing the city-state of racism.

"It is timely for Singapore ... to have the promotion of Malay generals in the military," said the Singapore Malay National Organization, an opposition party that claims 5,000 members.

"It's been over 30 years since independence and there have never been any" Malay generals, said party secretary-general Mohammed Rahizan Yaacob.

In a press release, the party demanded that the government establish a prime minister's advisory council "to ensure total elimination of racial discrimination, not only in (the armed forces) but also at work places, in conformity with the constitution."

"This is the best time for these issues to be brought out," Rahizan said. "Without racial harmony, we will not have prosperity."

The Malay party, with no representation in the Parliament dominated for 40 years by the People's Action Party, said it "is not convinced that the PAP government has exercised substantial effort to end discrimination against Malays in ... military institutions."

Racism, an issue seldom discussed in multi-racial, Chinese- majority Singapore, has suddenly hit the government-controlled press and television news.

Meanwhile, two Malay organizations in Singapore and the city- state's leading newspaper have added their voices to a chorus of concern over remarks by Habibie alleging racism in the city- state.

The Straits Times newspaper said on Friday Malay group Taman Bacaan had expressed shock at Habibie's comments, while another organization, Majlis Pusat, said it had found them astonishing and regrettable.

A Straits Times editorial said Habibie's "latest outburst does raise the question of whether the almost reflex antipathy toward Singapore is symptomatic of a deeper malaise that is souring bilateral relations."

The newspaper, owned by government-linked Singapore Press Holdings, cautioned against over-reaction, but expressed hope Habibie "will check his facts before he next decides to talk about Singapore."

Habibie was quoted as saying in an interview with Taiwan media published and broadcast this week: "In Singapore, if you are a Malay, you can never become a military officer.

"They are the real racists, not here. You can go and check it out."

In response, Taman Bacaan president Abdul Halim Kader named several high-ranking ethnic Malay military officers and said the existence of Malay self-help groups getting government aid showed the Singapore government was not racist.

Habibie made the comments while defending Indonesia's treatment of ethnic Chinese, saying there was no discrimination against them as racist policies had been abolished.

Chinese are a small minority in Indonesia. In Singapore they account for some 77 percent of citizens, with Malays a minority at 14 percent. Indians are next at 7 percent.