An Analysis of the Constitutional Principles of Equality and Affirmative Action vis-à-vis Employment in Malaysia

Abstract

Malaysia's diverse and multicultural society poses unique challenges in achieving a balanced and inclusive employment landscape that upholds both the rights and needs of individuals. In this regard, constitutional principles of equality serve as the cornerstone for promoting non-discrimination in employment across the public and private sectors. The concept of equality embedded in the constitution today, on the other hand, is anchored in a complicated historical context that has greatly shaped the nation’s path. Hence, guaranteeing the effective application of the principle while taking into account the individual rights and needs of every community remains a difficult challenge. This is because affirmative action policy is also embedded in the constitution that aims at protecting the Bumiputera. Hence, understanding the historical context behind the establishment of the constitution is of utmost importance as it allows Malaysians to appreciate its unique features that seek to strike a delicate balance between the rights and needs of the people. This study which is doctrinal in nature, attempts to examine Malaysia's constitutional equality principles, with a special emphasis on understanding how to strike a balance between individual's rights and needs in the context of employment. This study tries to uncover the issues and challenges that impede the equitable implementation of the equality principle in the employment sector by evaluating historical events, existing legal frameworks, policies, and practices.Keywords: employment; affirmative action; equality; constitution; balanceReferencesAbdul Khalid, M., & Yang, L. (2019, September 11). Income inequality among different ethnic groups: The case of Malaysia. London School of Economics. https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessreview/2019/09/11/income-inequality-among-different-ethnic-groups-the-case-of-malaysia/Abdul Rahman, A. A. (2008, July 6). Article 153 intended for long term. Malaysian Bar. https://www.malaysianbar.org.my/article/news/legal-and-general-news/members-opinions/article-153-intended-for-long-termAli Mohamed, A. A. (2014). Malaysian legal system. (1st ed.). Malaysian Current Law Journal Sdn Bhd.Chin, J. (2019). ‘New’ Malaysia: Four key challenges in the near term. Lowy Institute for International Policy. http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep19781Department of Statistics Malaysia. (2022, July 29). Current population estimates 2022. https://www.dosm.gov.my/site/downloadrelease?id=current-population-estimates-malaysia-2022&lang=EnglishDepartment of Statistics Malaysia. (n.d.). Bumiputera statistics 2022. https://www.dosm.gov.my/uploads/release-content/file_20221206143830.pdfFaruqui, S. S. (2003). Affirmative action policies and the constitution. Kajian Malaysia, 21(1), 31 - 57.Faruqui, S. S. (2008). Document of destiny : the Constitution of the Federation of Malaysia. (1st ed.). Star Publications (Malaysia) Berhad.Hashim, M. S., T. (1974). An Introduction to the constitution of Malaysia. Johari Publication.Ibrahim Ali, S., Mohamed Yusoff, Z., & Ayub, Z. A. (2017). Legal Research of Doctrinal and Non-Doctrinal. International Journal of Trend in Research and Development, 4(1), 493 - 495.Lee, H. A. (2017). Labour discrimination in Malaysia: Passage out of the Gridlock? Perspective, 35(1), 1 - 8.Lee, H. A. (2018, October 12). Article 153 empowers temporary affirmative action, but cannot resolve majority-minority tensions. The Malaysian Insight. https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/110834?utm_source=Daily+News+on+the+Southeast+Asian+Region++13+November+2018&utm_campaign=Daily+News+Alert+20181113&utm_medium=emailLee, H. A. (2022). Social justice and affirmative action in Malaysia: The new economic policy after 50 Years. Asian Economic Policy Review, 18 (1), 97 – 119. https://doi.org/10.1111/aepr.12404Lee, Hock. (2005). Affirmative action in Malaysia. Southeast Asian Affair, 211- 228. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27913284Matambo, E., & Ani, N. C. (2015). Endorsing intellectual development in South Africa’s Affirmative action. Journal of Third World Studies, 32(1), 273–291.Merican, A. M., & Mohamed Amin, A. U. R. (2011). The 1786 Acquisition of Pulau Pinang: Unveiling the light letters, revisiting legal history case materials and R. Bonney’s Kedah 1771–1821. Kemanusiaan, 28(2), 189 – 212. https://doi.org/10.21315/kajh2021.28.2.8Mohd Nor, A. (2008). The Malay historical thought in the 15th century Malacca. International Journal of The Humanities, 6 (3), 123 -130. http://dx.doi.org/10.18848/1447-9508/CGP/v06i03/42385Nik Hussain, N. H. (2014). The law for the self-government of Terengganu, 1911 and the maintaining of the status of Malay Muslims in Terengganu. Melayu: Jurnal Antarabangsa Dunia Melayu, 7(1), 41 – 59.Prime Minister’s Department. (n.d). Malaysia’s Development Philosophy and the Affirmative Action. Economic Planning Unit. https://www.ekonomi.gov.my/sites/default/files/2020-02/Malaysia%E2%80%99s_Development_Philosophy_And_The_Affirmative_Action.pdfPusat KOMAS. (2022). Malaysia Racial Discrimination Report 2021. https://komas.org/laporan-rasisme-malaysia/Rahim, M., Mustaffa, N., Ahmad, F., & Lyndon, N. (2013). A memoryscape Malayan Union 1946: The beginning and rise of modern Malay political culture. Asian Social Science, 9(6), 36-42. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/ass.v9n6p36Ramalingam, C. L., Ali Mohamed, A. A., Panchalimgam, L., & Manikam, V. (2022). Right to life and personal liberty. In A. A. Ali Mohamed & M. H. Ahmad (Eds.). Constitutional Law in Malaysia (1st ed.) (pp. 95 - 129). Lexis Nexis. Singh, H. (1998). Tradition, UMNO and political succession in Malaysia. Third World Quarterly, 19(2), 241–254. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3993159Suzuki, A (2011, January 31). Authoritative control or binding agreements: The restriction of political freedom under Malaysia’s Constitution (Amendment) Act 1971, IKMAS Seminar Room. https://www.ukm.my/ikmas/wpcontent/uploads/2018/01/2011(Authoritative%20Control%20or%20Binding%20Agreements).pdfThomas, V. (2023, February 17). Call to increase greater racial diversity in the Malaysian civil service! Focus Malaysia. https://focusmalaysia.my/call-to-increase-greater-racial-diversity-in-the-malaysian-civil-service-is-relevant/Trocki, C. A. (1993). A history of Johore (1365 - 1941). Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 66(1), 87–89. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41486192Wan Husain, W. A. F. H. (2021). Article 153 Of the Federal Constitution: Governing principle for affirmative policy against social injustice. Journal of Governance and Integrity, 5(1), 135–140. https://doi.org/10.15282/jgi.5.1.2021.7130Whah, C. Y., & Guan, B. T. C. (2017). Malaysia’s protracted affirmative action policy and the evolution of the Bumiputera Commercial and Industrial Community. SOJOURN: Journal of Social Issues in Southeast Asia, 32(2), 336-373.