ALOR STAR: Kedah Umno Youth has backed the party's state information chief who has come under heavy criticism over his opposition to the government's initiative to boost the involvement of Chinese in the civil service.
Mohd Raqib Abu Hassan, the Kedah Umno Youth chief, said he believes Datuk Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin's view mirrors the current reality.
Shaiful had said the government's push could undermine the Bumiputera economy as the civil service has served as a platform for Bumiputeras to compete on a stage of "fairness and equity".
He also said then that the Chinese gravitated towards the private sector.
Shaiful came under fire from Gerakan, DAP and MCA leaders.
Raqib said while data on racial discrimination was limited, there were grievances among those who felt discriminated against in the private sector.
He cited job requirements for "Mandarin Speakers Only".
Meanwhile, Raqib also said there was a need to acknowledge unjust wage disparities among different ethnic groups.
"Why should we turn a blind eye and deaf ear as if these issues do not exist?" he added.
On Saturday, a Chinese daily reported that the government will launch a campaign to encourage greater Chinese community participation in the public sector.
Political secretary to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Chan Ming Kai said that the campaign was conducted due to the low interest among the Chinese community in civil service roles.