East Asian Economic Integration

This past few weeks have been tumultuos for Malaysia and also globally. The subprime crisis now leading to a financial meltdown. Even India and China, the current juggernut in the Asian region have not been spared (read here and here).

Perhaps, at a time like this, it is important to come together to address this global crisis. China should especially step up to take a leading position in addressing this crisis.

Which leads me to the point I want to make. Can we celebrate diversity? Can we see that diversity is a pluss and not a negative. As Barack Obama (hopefully the next President of the United States of America) will say - that the sum of each of us are greater than the parts.
This is especially a challenge in my country Malaysia. Somehow the ruling party fails to understand the strengths of our diverse country. Appreciating diversity is key to surviving in this globalised world. This posting is especially for my Malaysian friends, especially those in the government.

In 2003, the Supreme Court of the United States upheld the right of universities to consider race in admissions procedures in order to achieve diverse student body. The landmark decision in support of affirmative action noted that while quotas are unconstitutional, diversity is congruent with the U.S. Constitution. Most importantly, the decision approved a model for universities on how to enrol a student body that is both academically excellent and racially integrated.

Diversity is a positive value. Nature thrives only through diversity. Diversity, as a philosophy, is liberating as persons are recognised for their uniqueness, heritage, talent and capabilities. It enhances the self-esteem of the individual, as the individual is selected not as an obligation but through set criteria. It leads to a more complete person that does not need to assert ones heritage, ethnicity, belief, ideology, social status, physical condition or geographical location unto others to gain self-esteem. Diversity promotes inclusion, understanding, and tolerance and rejects all forms of discrimination.

In heterogonous societies, governments and international businesses recognise the value of diversity to serve their citizens and consumers better. Several governments such as the United States, the European Union and Australia have implemented programmes to enhance diversity in the workplace through the provision of equal opportunity. The Global Diversity Forum, an international human resource expert network that promotes diversity at the workplace, boasts of membership from the Fortune 500 corporations. Businesses today use diversity as a strategy to better compete in a global market where consumers are heterogonous.

As a concrete measure to promote diversity in Malaysia, the following measures can be taken in the following sectors – the civil service, admission into private colleges and universities and non-centralised public universities, employment opportunities in the private and non-profit sector as well as faith-based organisations.

What will be required is a transparent system where the criteria of selection is stipulated along with the points accorded. An inclusive consultation process to develop the mechanism will help clarify the mechanism as well as assuage the fears of any particular group. Some suggestions for the criteria that promotes diversity would be points for applicants from poorer neighbourhoods or economically depressed regions, member of a minority ethnic groups as well as sub-ethnic groups, applicants who are differently able, women applicants, applicants who are multi-lingual, appreciating non-academic talents such as being artistic (musically inclined, able to paint, creative talents), love of outdoors, sports and community service.

By embracing diversity, Malaysia will progressively move towards building a cohesive nation and at the same time add to its competitive advantage in creating and seizing opportunities that come with a global village that appreciates diversity.