Latest news with #MalaysianIndians
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Business groups feeling the pinch
Red ink rising: Fuad (left) and Ravindran say many of their members are noting a drop in sales, especially in the last few weeks. JOHOR BARU: Public concerns over the possible impact of the looming United States tariff and the recent expansion of the Sales and Service Tax (SST) are beginning to show tangible effects, according to business groups here. Johor Baru Bazaar Karat Development and Welfare Association president Fuad Rahmat said many of its members have noticed a drop in sales, especially in the last few weeks. 'While none of our members have gone as far as shutting down for good or scaling down their businesses, they are definitely affected. 'Business has not been good for a lot of traders, with some even saying that sales were worse than during the Covid-19 pandemic. 'While the expanded SST does not directly affect Bazaar Karat traders, it may contribute to lower sales as people are afraid to spend too much due to the uncertain impacts of the tax expansion and the coming US tariff,' he said. He added that business groups such as his would need to be creative to assist their members in offsetting the impact of the SST. 'We need to be proactive and come up with ideas to help attract more people to the bazaar. 'One of the initiatives we have taken up is giving customers coupons that they can use when shopping at the bazaar. 'We are also planning to come up with some events that may help bring in more visitors,' he said. Johor Baru Small Businesses Association chairman Tey Tian Hwang said some of its members were contemplating shutting down their businesses, but after a review, such sentiments have gone quiet for now. 'However, they have seen the number of customers dwindling, especially in the last week or two, as people try to avoid spending due to uncertainty about their financial future,' he said. He added that the government should consider looking at profit margin instead of turnover when deciding on the SST threshold. 'It may not be the best yardstick. There are many businesses that may have high revenue but because of increased operational costs, their profit margins are small,' he said. Meanwhile, Johor Indian Petty Traders and Small Business Association chairman D. Ravindran said its members have also started to feel the impact of the expanded SST. 'It has significantly impacted local retail operators, particularly small, medium and micro enterprises, which make up the majority of businesses here,' he said. 'For these businesses, especially in the logistics, services and retail sectors, these changes mean increased costs, new compliance and narrower profit margins.' He added that the 25% US tariff would worsen the situation as it would contribute to an increase in the prices of products exported to the United States. 'It will affect Malaysian Indians involved in businesses such as exporting spices, ready-to-eat food, and palm oil derivatives, as it makes the goods they export less competitive in the US market. 'This may potentially lead to a decrease in export volumes and prompt US companies to start looking for cheaper alternatives,' he said. The expanded SST, which took effect this month, now covers more goods and services with tax rates ranging from 5% to 10%. Separately, the US has also announced a 25% tariff on imports from Malaysia, which is expected to take effect next month.
New Straits Times
16-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Study finds young Malaysians most likely to support ban on racially biased landlords
KUALA LUMPUR: Young Malaysians aged 18 to 24 are more likely than any other age group to support a legal ban on racial discrimination by landlords. This stance contrasts sharply with older generations, a new YouGov survey shows. The survey, involving 1,104 respondents, found that Malaysians aged 18 to 24 were the only age group where more people supported making racial discrimination in renting illegal (39 per cent) than those who opposed it. In contrast, 58.7 per cent of respondents aged 35 to 54 believed landlords should retain the right to select tenants based on race. A report by Free Malaysia Today (FMT) said overall, nearly 57 per cent supported introducing a law to regulate the rental housing market, while only 10 per cent were against the proposed Residential Tenancy Act (RTA) — legislation that has been in the pipeline for years. However, Malaysians remain divided on whether the RTA should specifically ban racial discrimination in housing. Nearly half of all respondents said landlords should be allowed to choose tenants by race, while only 31 per cent supported making such practices illegal. The findings were released during a forum hosted by Architects of Diversity (AOD), a civil society group advocating for equality in housing and education, to mark the launch of its report on discrimination in the rental market. Forum participants called on the government to expedite and strengthen the RTA to include clear protections against racial discrimination. "If the government fails to pass the Residential Tenancy Act — or worse, passes it without addressing racial discrimination — it will have missed its greatest opportunity to protect Malaysian Indians," said AOD executive director Jason Wee. The survey found that Indians were the most affected by racial bias, with nearly two in five reporting discrimination while trying to rent a home. Support for banning discrimination was highest among Indians (63.8 per cent), young adults (39 per cent), and full-time students (42 per cent). Wee noted that young Malaysians, particularly minorities, are especially vulnerable to housing discrimination as they often rely on rented accommodation while studying or beginning their careers in urban areas. The forum also highlighted common justifications landlords give for selecting tenants by race, including fear of problematic tenants, concerns about religious or cultural clashes, and entrenched personal biases masked as "racial preferences."
Free Malaysia Today
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Young people favour ban on racist landlords, survey shows
A forum on the proposed Residential Tenancy Act heard of survey findings showing that Malaysians of different generations hold opposing views on racial discrimination in the housing market. KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysians aged 18 to 24 are in favour of making it illegal for landlords to choose tenants by race, according to a market survey, while almost 59% of Malaysians aged 35 to 54 were in favour of allowing landlords to do so. The survey, by market research firm YouGov, showed that almost 57% of the 1,104 survey respondents were in favour of a law to regulate the market, and only 10% opposed to the proposed Residential Tenancy Act, which has been years in the making. However, respondents were split by age group on whether to ban racial discrimination in housing. Almost 50% believed that landlords should be allowed to choose tenants based on race, while 31% believed it should be made illegal. Those aged 18 to 24 were the only age group in which a plurality (39%) supported making it illegal to practise racial discrimination in renting, while 58.7% of Malaysians aged 35 to 54 were more inclined to believe that landlords should retain the right to select tenants based on race. Almost two in five Malaysian Indians in the survey reported facing racial discrimination in the housing market. Support for banning racial discrimination was highest among Indians (63.8%), those aged 18 to 24 (39%) and full-time students (42%). The survey findings were released at a forum by civil society organisation Architects of Diversity, held in conjunction with the launch of its latest report on discrimination in rented housing. Jason Wee. Participants at the forum called for the government to pass the long-delayed law. 'If the government fails to pass the Residential Tenancy Act, or worse, passes it without addressing racial discrimination, it will have missed its greatest opportunity to protect Indian Malaysians,' said the group's executive director, Jason Wee. Wee said young Malaysians were worse affected by the discrimination, especially those from minority groups who rely on rented housing while working or studying in cities According to those at the forum, landlords cited three main reasons for choosing tenants by race: fear of losing income because of problematic tenants; cultural or religious clashes; and personal prejudice cloaked as 'racial preference'. One respondent, identified as being a 'Serani', described how property agents often appeared more interested in their ethnicity than in financial credentials. Fikri Faisal. Independent researcher Fikri Faisal, who spoke at the forum, took issue with the figure of RM608 average rent reported by the statistics department for the Klang Valley, while private property listings showed rent of between RM2,200 and RM2,500. Fikri called for improved data collection, as the gap in the data could skew national housing policy. Just over 50% of respondents supported the setting up of a rent tribunal to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants, such as over deposits or evictions, without the high cost of lawyers and court proceedings The tribunal found greater support among older Malaysians, especially those aged 45 and above, Chinese respondents, and higher-income earners. Support was lowest among students and the unemployed, the groups most vulnerable to discrimination and insecure tenancy. Rajiv Rishakaran. Bukit Gasing assemblyman Rajiv Rishakaran said policy intervention was justified if even a small percentage of tenants faced racial bias. 'Everyone fears the worst when they hear about a residential tenancy act, because they fear rent controls or that too many terms and conditions will be included in the contracts, making things very difficult for them,' he said. He said he hoped that housing minister Nga Kor Ming would consider establishing the rental tribunal, as it would help reduce the incidence of rental discrimination. Wee said: 'You don't stop prosecuting theft because some thieves get away. The law exists to draw a moral line and offer recourse to those harmed.'
Free Malaysia Today
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Why Malaysian Indians are mourning the wrong heroes
From Charles Santiago It is both painful and telling to witness thousands of young Malaysian Indians, including schoolchildren, turning up in force for the funerals of gang leaders and underworld figures. Meanwhile, the passing of educators, scholars, or community leaders who have dedicated their lives to uplifting the Malaysian Indian community barely registers. This is not merely a moral failing but a reflection of a nation that has, for decades, normalised the exclusion and degradation of an entire ethnic group. For too long, Indians in Malaysia have lived under the shadow of structural neglect and state-sanctioned second-class citizenship. There are no meaningful affirmative action policies to uplift the community. Disparities in education, access to business capital, and government procurement opportunities are entrenched. Derogatory terms like 'keling' continue to be used without consequence. The casual branding of Indians as alcoholics, criminals, and gangsters – by the media, by policymakers, and in public discourse – has robbed generations of dignity and self-worth. But even despair has context. What the crowds at these funerals signal is not just misplaced loyalty. It is the scream of a community cornered, of youth who have been told, over and over again, that the system was never built for them. When formal institutions abandon people, informal power fills the vacuum. This is what we are seeing: a loyalty born not of choice but of exclusion. The 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) provides the government with a strategic policy and implementation space to meaningfully address the marginalisation of Malaysian Indians. We need to put forward a bold, community-driven framework to confront systemic exclusion and offer a real pathway to empowerment, especially for the bottom 60% (B60) of Indian households. Policymakers could focus on four urgent areas of intervention – education reform, youth and women empowerment, SME development, and institutional accountability – and these should be prioritised as a blueprint for survival. If embedded into 13MP and future national development agendas, these proposals could help shift the Malaysian Indian narrative from dependency to agency, from marginalisation to shared prosperity. This is not about special treatment; it is about justice – about repairing the damage of decades of structural neglect and finally allowing Malaysian Indians to participate fully and equitably in national development. To ignore this moment, to once again sideline the voices of a hurting, frustrated, and disillusioned community, is to risk losing another generation. If the government truly cares about social cohesion, nation-building, and justice, then it must start by recognising where it has failed – and act decisively to correct it. This is not a call for pity. It is a call for political will. Charles Santiago is a political economist and a former MP. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
The Star
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
India keen to simplify OCI applications for Malaysian Indians: High Commissioner
FILE PHOTO: A large group of devotees ascend the stairs to the waterfall hilltop temple in Penang. Around 100,000 of over two million Malaysian Indians are holding OCI cards.- CHAN BOON KAI/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: India is working to simplify the procedure for Malaysian Indians seeking the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status, acknowledging that documentation requirements remain a key challenge for applicants. In an exclusive interview with Bernama, High Commissioner of India to Malaysia B. N. Reddy said the mission recognises that many applicants face difficulties in providing proof of ancestry, particularly due to historical migration patterns and the loss of documents over time. "Before OCI status is issued, individuals need to provide documents proving Indian origin, up to the third generation. "The challenge is that many documents are not available because those who came here during the British era often did not retain them, and some were lost during the war period,' he said. Reddy said the High Commission has been engaging with the Indian government to allow for the use of documents issued by Malaysian authorities and former British colonial administrations to support OCI applications. "We have tried to get our government to agree that documents issued by the Malaysian government or former Malaya authorities can be accepted. "If a document identifies India as the country of origin, we can issue the OCI card,' he said. He said currently around 100,000 of over two million Malaysian Indians are holding OCI cards. OCI status allows foreign nationals of Indian origin to travel to India without a visa and grants certain rights, including the ability to own property under specific conditions, but does not confer citizenship. - Bernama
