Malayia need a Ministry of Minority Affairs
The creation of a Ministry to handle the affairs of the minorities in the country will help clear the grievances as it will show the people that the government is paying full attention to their needs.
Being a multiracial country, fast developing and gearing towards a modern society, Malaysia need a Minority Affairs Department or Ministry of Minority Affairs (MMA) rather than a non-Muslim affairs department. The rejection of the Non-Muslim affairs department idea by the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi comes in handy as it is the right move altogether.Shooting down the idea however does not mean the problems raised by minorities (including Muslim minorities) are solved.
These problems need to be handled in a modern way with modern approaches instead. Due to the immense complexities of dealing with minorities, the government should appoint a Minister for Minority Affairs. The minister may be from any race or religion in the country but the main aim of the minister is not to run the Ministry of Minority Affairs but to listen to the grievances of the minorities and bring these grievances to the Cabinet.
The creation of such a ministry will not only boost the image of the government locally and on foreign shores, it will also give a sense of belonging to the nation to the beleaguered minorities in Malaysia.
