ERADICATE RACISM THROUGH 'SEJAHTERA'

ERADICATE RACISM TROUGH ‘SEJAHTERA’

Written by: Mohammad Afizul bin Mohd Sukiman

We found out recently of the unfortunate news that a politician made a racist comment toward our national women's singles badminton star, Kisona, after she lost to world number five Akane Yamaguchi in the Sudirman Cup semi-final on October 2, 2021. Due to this, issues related to racism in our country can become aggressive if our society ignores them. Matters related to racism need to be taken seriously by all communities to maintain the sensitivity of the races in this country.

The term racism denotes the prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism by an individual, community, or institution against a person or people based on their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group since they are a minority or marginalized. Also, can be defined the belief that different races possess distinct characteristics, abilities, or qualities, especially to distinguish them as inferior or superior to one another. While the opposite meaning is impartiality defines the equal treatment of all rivals or fairness.

Meanwhile, the word impartiality can be linked to the term 'Sejahtera,' which refers to the execution of sustainable development on a local level. The term 'Sejahtera' can also be used to denote peace and prosperity, which is the polar opposite of prejudice. Meanwhile, the term impartiality can be linked to the term ‘sejahtera’ which refers to the execution of sustainable development on a local level. The phrase 'Sejahtera' can also refer to peace and prosperity, which is the antithesis of prejudice. Early Malay societies were completely viable in their forest and coastal settings. While their social institutions changed, their ‘sejahtera’ way of life did not.

Generally, Sejahtera can be defined as a balanced lifestyle that is elegantly weaved into the acronym spices by ten different aspects to attain a long-term (sustainable) state of well-being, each element must be in balance with itself and with the others. The ten aspects consist of

spiritual, emotional, ethical, intellectual, cognitive, psychological, societal, environmental, cultural, and societal.

In this issue, we try to concentrate on how discrimination issues can be eliminated by incorporating ‘sejahtera’ into our daily lives. Racism is the notion that distinct groups of individuals have different behavioral qualities matching to inherited characteristics, and that these groups can be segregated based on racial supremacy. It can also refer to prejudice, discrimination, or hostility aimed toward others because of their race or ethnicity. Racism nowadays is frequently founded on social views of biological distinctions among people. Different races are ranked as inherently superior or inferior to each other based on presumed shared inheritable traits, abilities, or qualities. These views can take the form of social actions, practices, or beliefs, or political systems in which different races are ranked as inherently superior or inferior to each other based on presumed shared inheritable traits, abilities, or qualities. There have been attempts to scientifically validate racist ideas, but they have always been proven to be erroneous.

Issues related to discrimination can be placed under the fifth, tenth, and sixteenth Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) categories, 5(Gender Equality), 10 (Reduce Inequalities), 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). The fifth SDGs gives exposure to achieve gender equality and empower all women and all girls. While the tenth SDGs emphasizes reducing inequalities within and among countries. The sixteenth SDGs promote peaceful and inclusive

societies for sustainable development as well as provide access to justice for all to build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

We can see from all the above categories are very related to the issue of discrimination, moreover the sixteenth can be said that it emphasizes peace and prosperity that is opposed to prejudicial. With the existence of SDGs, the disclosure of discrimination can also be promoted to the public to maintain public welfare and the public can follow the recommendations given on how to address this issue.

Malaysia is a multi-ethnic country populated primarily by Muslims. Racism accusations come from racial biases embedded in the Malaysian government's social and economic policies. It also broader tensions between ethnic groups. In the political sector, the concept of Malay supremacy is widely embraced.

The largest group of Malaysians consist of three main races, namely the Malays, Chinese and Indians. Although there are many races in Malaysia, Malaysian society cannot be separated by the racist attitude of some, regardless of race, ethnicity, or religion.

The terrible events of the country's most destructive racial riots on May 13, 1969, should serve as a reminder of how critical it is for this country's multi-racial society to remain unified and live in harmony. Prof Datuk Dr. Teo Kok Seong, the main fellow of University Kebangsaan Malaysia's Institute of Ethnic Studies, said that the lessons learned from the last 50 years are vital. It is not only for people's harmony but also for the country's development.

"The episode on May 13 serves as a reminder of the truth of the proverb of losing to ashes, winning to charcoal," he told Bernama, "since the war is destructive to all races, apart from harming the country's image on the international stage. "This issue does not only involve adults

but at present, children are also plagued with this problem who are influenced by both adults and peers.

From time immemorial, children at school have also been accustomed to insulting other races, this may be because they always move among their races and clans and because minorities are often insulted, especially Indians and Chinese. This needs to be addressed since school.This problem is not just affecting Malaysians, it is also affecting foreigners who work in the country. Some of us have been using the rough language s adjectives to refer to habits for years without feeling guilty.

Pay attention to the comments if a story about racial misunderstanding becomes viral on social media. It is bad, disgusting, and suffocating. There is no distinction between the person who posted the statement and the viral subject who has been accused of racism. In a comparable vein, many Malaysians despise Indonesian, Bangladeshi, and Nepalese workers employed as handlers in the country. It is not enough to turn a blind eye without evaluating their hard work in this country to make a livelihood; they are also labeled with many labels that attack their social class and rank.

By applying the concept of ‘sejahtera’ to this situation, numerous initiatives can be taken to remedy it. From a ‘sejahtera’ standpoint, we can see that the concept of ‘sejahtera’ emphasizes the importance of coexistence and a balanced lifestyle and that all of our communities must be appreciated, safeguarded, and lived.

To abolish racism and discrimination at all levels of society, the government must lead measures for widespread social and public awareness through huge campaigns, information for the public, particularly through the formal education system. The importance of a quality education system in Malaysia makes the notion of ‘sejahtera’ more widely applied in the pursuit of personal happiness. As a result, exposing youngsters to this racial issue beginning in elementary school can provide early knowledge to this group, ensuring that the issue does not become too extreme in the future.

In addition, in applying the concept of equality, punishment against any minister, government official, elected representative, organizations and associations, individuals, politicians, and social media groups who exhibit racist tendencies and discrimination through their speech and actions need to be curbed. This is also has been emphasized in the concept of ‘sejahtera’. Those in formal and informalleadership positions must play a role in denouncing and criticizing racist attitudes and actions. Racist attitudes and acts must be condemned and condemned by those in

formal and informal leadership positions. They must also refrain from politicizing discussions on diversity, ethnicity, and religion. This is because they have a significant influence on people's decisions.

In Malaysia, there is also a special body called the Pusat KOMAS that promotes equality and the elimination of all forms of racial prejudice. The KOMAS Center for human rights was established in August 1993 to empower indigenous peoples, the urban poor, labor, and civil society organizations in Malaysia to struggle for human rights.

In conclusion, we can see what causes racism and how it has a very negative impact on the development of the country. This problem needs to be addressed as soon as possible before it becomes more extreme. Despite the difference, language, religion, or skin color. With the awareness among all races, this is easy to curb. This issue in Malaysia is not too chronic but with early exposure, especially to children can avoid becoming difficult to curb.

All levels of society also need to work together, especially to apply ‘sejahtera’ in addressing this issue. This is because the practice of ‘sejahtera’ can create a peaceful society in all aspects to achieve a successful level. From the Islamic perspective, al-Falāḥ can be considered as the most appropriate conceptual equivalent of the Islamicised meaning of ‘sejahtera’. (Kamal Hassan 2020).

Although ‘sejahtera’ is a way that combines all aspects in creating a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere, the containment of racist issues is also one of the initiatives or activities that need to be taken into account. So that the concept of ‘sejahtera’itself can be perfected. Thus, a united society was born that lives in peace and harmony, protected from any catastrophe and chaos.

MOHAMMAD AFIZUL BIN MOHD SUKIMAN

KULIYYAH OF ARCHITECTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN IIUM

The term racism denotes the prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism by an individual, community, or institution against a person or people based on their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group since they are a minority or marginalized. Also, can be defined the belief that different races possess distinct characteristics, abilities, or qualities, especially to distinguish them as inferior or superior to one another. While the opposite meaning is impartiality defines the equal treatment of all rivals or fairness.