Association of Muslim Professionals calls for body to address discriminatory practices

Bakery chain PrimaDeli has apologised, and sacked a staff who allegedly made racist remarks to a candidate during a job interview. PHOTO: FACEBOOK/PRIMADELI

SINGAPORE - The Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) is calling for the formation of a central body to address discriminatory practices by individuals or companies, after "what seems to be an increase in the number of discriminatory practices...against the minority and foreign communities in Singapore".

In a media statement on Wednesday (May 4), it said that anecdotal reports of discriminatory practices are circulated on social media and that "no publicly available data currently exists that tracks such incidents and the consequent reparative actions taken".

The call by AMP follows a report last Friday (April 29) in which bakery chain Prima Deli sacked a staff member who allegedly made racist remarks to a candidate during a job interview.

The AMP added that the central body, which can comprise "various stakeholders, including the government, private and independent bodies", will provide referral for resolutionand mediation, records and reviews such incidents and collects data to be used to develop strategies to reduce or eliminate similar discriminatory practices in the future.

"Such incidents can cause irreparable tears to our social fabric, which has long been nurtured by generations before ours," it said in the statement.

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