FMT:
NGO reports 11-year high in incidents of racism in 2025
3 hours ago
Kenneth Chong and Kirthana Arumugam
Pusat Komas says most incidents occurred during public discourse and in Parliament
Cases in social settings are likely under-reported due to monitoring limitations, said Pusat Komas.
KUALA LUMPUR: Pusat Komas recorded 107 racism-related incidents last year, the most in the past 11 years according to the organisation.
At the launch of its Malaysia Racism Report 2025, Pusat Komas project coordinator B Yogavelan said the figure marked a sharp increase from the 73 cases reported in 2024.
The report splits incidents of racism into three broad categories to better reflect how racism manifests across society: social settings, public discourse and policy, and Parliament.
Of the 107 cases, 45 were recorded in public discourse and policy, 43 in Parliament, and 19 in social settings.
“As you can see, incidents that happen within social settings are the least. Parliament and public discourse are really heightened,” Yogavelan said at the report launch here today.
In its report, Pusat Komas said public discourse-related cases remained consistent throughout the year, while cases in social settings were likely under-reported due to monitoring limitations.
The organisation found that, in Parliament, racial majoritarianism and debates linked to Article 153 were the biggest contributors with 18 incidents.
Article 153 of the Federal Constitution ensures that the Malays and natives of East Malaysia have access to “such proportion” of positions in the public service, scholarships, as well as permits and licences for the operation of any trade or business, as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may deem reasonable.
This was followed by xenophobic rhetoric (nine incidents), religious rhetoric and fearmongering (eight), language and exclusion (six), and the weaponisation of Palestine and places of worship (one).
Pusat Komas called for an independent national harmony commission to address racial and religious disputes, alongside broader institutional reforms.
Its analysis of the 2026 federal budget meanwhile found a shift towards more needs-based assistance through targeted and universal programmes like the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah, Sumbangan Asas Rahmah, and BUDI95 schemes.
However, it said race-based allocations persisted in policy outcomes through a “de facto prioritisation” of race despite the presence of universal funding mechanisms.
It suggested that Malaysia fully shift towards a needs-based model, saying such an approach would ensure that assistance reaches those most in need without reinforcing racial divisions.
At the launch of its Malaysia Racism Report 2025, Pusat Komas project coordinator B Yogavelan said the figure marked a sharp increase from the 73 cases reported in 2024.
The report splits incidents of racism into three broad categories to better reflect how racism manifests across society: social settings, public discourse and policy, and Parliament.
Of the 107 cases, 45 were recorded in public discourse and policy, 43 in Parliament, and 19 in social settings.
“As you can see, incidents that happen within social settings are the least. Parliament and public discourse are really heightened,” Yogavelan said at the report launch here today.
In its report, Pusat Komas said public discourse-related cases remained consistent throughout the year, while cases in social settings were likely under-reported due to monitoring limitations.
The organisation found that, in Parliament, racial majoritarianism and debates linked to Article 153 were the biggest contributors with 18 incidents.
Article 153 of the Federal Constitution ensures that the Malays and natives of East Malaysia have access to “such proportion” of positions in the public service, scholarships, as well as permits and licences for the operation of any trade or business, as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may deem reasonable.
This was followed by xenophobic rhetoric (nine incidents), religious rhetoric and fearmongering (eight), language and exclusion (six), and the weaponisation of Palestine and places of worship (one).
Pusat Komas called for an independent national harmony commission to address racial and religious disputes, alongside broader institutional reforms.
Its analysis of the 2026 federal budget meanwhile found a shift towards more needs-based assistance through targeted and universal programmes like the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah, Sumbangan Asas Rahmah, and BUDI95 schemes.
However, it said race-based allocations persisted in policy outcomes through a “de facto prioritisation” of race despite the presence of universal funding mechanisms.
It suggested that Malaysia fully shift towards a needs-based model, saying such an approach would ensure that assistance reaches those most in need without reinforcing racial divisions.
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Hardly surprising when the most racist have been politicians all along
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