Non-Malays in top roles ‘increasingly accepted', activist observes
Published on: Fri, Aug 15, 2025 Text Size: KUALA LUMPUR: Political activist Badrul Hisham Shaharin ( pic ), better known as Che'GuBard, is once again in the spotlight, this time over his remarks on non-Malays being appointed to senior positions in national institutions. Taking to his Facebook page, he recently highlighted the recent appointment of Datuk M Kumar as Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Royal Malaysian Police as another sign of what he described as a move towards a 'Malaysian Malaysia.' Kumar officially assumed his new role on Aug 8, succeeding Datuk Fadli Marsus in one of the most influential posts in the police force after the Inspector-General of Police. Che'GuBard also referred to the historic promotion of Datuk Johnny Lim Eng Seng as the first Malaysian Chinese officer to hold the rank of Lieutenant General in the Malaysian Armed Forces. He said such appointments signalled greater acceptance of merit-based selections, noting that the 1967 Setapak Declaration opposed the segregation of citizens into bumiputera and non-bumiputera groups. According to him, it is becoming increasingly common for non-Malays to be given positions of authority, with even parties that once opposed the idea now accepting it. Che'GuBard said early racial concerns over such appointments were quickly addressed by voices emphasising the importance of professional expertise over ethnicity. He also suggested that the trend could one day lead to non-Malays holding the positions of Chief Justice, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Chief of Police, and possibly even Prime Minister, if they are deemed capable of advancing the nation's interests. In his post, he remarked that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had acknowledged Malaysia's shift from race-based to need-based policies. Che'GuBard ended his commentary by congratulating those he credited with shaping what he sees as a new direction for the country's leadership. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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