Opinion

SLMC renews call for equal opportunities legislation

30 Jul 2015 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader Rauff Hakeem, in an interview with Dailymirror stressed the need to strengthen democracy in the country, and to bring about post war reconciliation. SLMC is contesting the General Election in alliance with the United National Party (UNP). Mr. Hakeem, a candidate from the Kandy district, is also the Urban Development and Water Supply Minister. It has its vote base mainly in the Eastern Province. In his interview, he opined that there was sense of fear and insecurity among the minority communities during the previous regime, and that disappeared with the formation of the new government. Right from the days of its founder leader the late A.H.M. Ashraff, SLMC has participated in governances in alliance with the major parties.Excerpts of the interview;

How important is this election in the perspective of your community?
It is important for us to sustain the positive achievement of the January 8th election. The xenophobic forces that enjoyed state patronage and instilled fear and insecurity among the minorities have lost the culture of impunity they enjoyed. Post-war reconciliation and ethnic harmony need to be promoted by ensuring that we have an unassailable majority and stable government. This is not only the wish of the minorities but also what almost all the people who love the nation look for.

In your view, what should be done to achieve post war reconciliation?
We need to ensure that our democratic institutions are protected. Vibrant space for dissenting opinion, an accountable government as well as an accountable media should be ensured so that there would be a healthy environment for the exchange of opposing views. This is what we lacked under the last regime. People feared. There were open intimidations and harassment of minority political leaders.

In this respect, the 19th Amendment was enacted to the Constitution. What else should be done in your view further?
We need a right to information legislation as well as a national audit act. We should strengthen our anti-corruption laws.

How important is the enactment of electoral reforms?
The electoral system needs to be changed. But, the problem here is that no electoral system can be changed with substantial consensus. The so-called 20th Amendment was hurried through even without the consensus of the Cabinet, purely as a means to reduce the inner tension and internal convulsion within the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. It would have been a disaster if the minor parties such as Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) were denied their due place in national politics by imposing a system without considering proper space for them. While we welcomed the system of the overall proportional representation for members to get elected, there should be room for members to get elected from their respective constituencies.

The change we advocated was two ballot papers for a voter. One is for the party of his choice, and the other for the candidate of choice. The second is transferable. These things cannot be introduced in haste.

The proper procedure should have been to set up a parliamentary select committee, and allow it to invite representation from the parties and individuals. Because of the parochial needs of those who needed to achieve narrow political objectives, we, the minorities, were going to be harmed. It would have reduced our representation.

QWhat are the other pressing concerns of the minority communities?
We need to get rid of any feeling of discrimination among the minorities. Discrimination sometimes takes place in the guise of giving pride to merit. Sometimes, the minorities are discriminated in many areas like the government employment promotion. In some of the elite government services like Sri Lanka Customs, Inland Revenue, the intake hardly has minority representation.

It is therefore important for us to consider equal opportunities legislation.

You mean a quota system to ensure chances for the minority communities?
It is not a quota system. It is equal opportunities legislation. A quota system is not something welcoming. It might even discourage people from improving their skills. We are not advocating a policy of departing from meritocracy. In order to ensure certain underprivileged groups, a proper space in education and elite schools can be ensured through equal opportunities legislation.

Is that the same legislation advocated by your late leader A.H.M. Ashraff?
Yes. Some issues are controversial. It is not without controversy. But, some way or another, we need to address certain grievances that persist.

What is the nature of electoral pact you have with the United National Party (UNP) this time?
We have an agreement regarding the manner we contest disciplinary control over the members contesting and to have a committee to resolve issues that might arise when we are in a coalition government.

Does that mean you can act independent of the UNP after the election?
All that is there. We are not saying specifically that we can act independently. What we are saying is that we have the disciplinary control over the members that rests with the respective parties. It ensures that we can act independently if the need arises. But then, it should not be construed that we would just betray the cause for which we have collectively pledged.

Opinion

SLMC renews call for equal opportunities legislation

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