With the recent spotlight placed on Lim Kok Wing University for a billboard that’s been deemed as racist (in which they’ve subsequently taken down), one former student & employee of the University has taken to Twitter to share some harrowing experiences she’s had to go through as a person of African descent in Lim Kok Wing University.
Her thread starts off innocently enough, with her urging her followers to sign a petition calling for the takedown of the controversial billboard. She then shares her personal experiences with the university, and reading it will just break your heart.
https://twitter.com/malazdotcom/status/1270394192053886977
https://twitter.com/malazdotcom/status/1270395532536680449
https://twitter.com/malazdotcom/status/1270395933419864064
Malaz first experience with racial discrimination at the uni came when she and her Namibian friend signed up to be a part of the choir for a school fashion show. According to Malaz, they were told they didn’t make the cut, which is fair enough. One of her Bruneian friends who did make the cut however, realised at the first rehearsal that they still needed volunteers.
When she brought up the fact that Malaz and her friend had volunteered and asked why they weren’t selected, the choir conductor replied by saying “they’re a bit too roasted.” This is just one of her many racist experiences with the school.
Other instances include having to reshoot an ad thats supposed to celebrate the diversity of the University because Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing wanted more caucasians in the photo.
https://twitter.com/malazdotcom/status/1270455628939571205
https://twitter.com/malazdotcom/status/1270457614162374658
She then sheds some light on how Lim Kok Wing University is funded by a number of African nations and that they have all failed due to terrible leadership.
https://twitter.com/malazdotcom/status/1270460360433315841
https://twitter.com/malazdotcom/status/1270461856998739968
Believe it or not, the story gets worse from here. Malaz goes on to tweet that there is are wage disparities between white employees and those of African descent.
https://twitter.com/malazdotcom/status/1270475297868124163
The discrimination doesn’t stop there. Apparently, black students are also barred from taking part in exhibitions, and when one black staff member stood up for the blatant racism thats going on, she was fired.
https://twitter.com/malazdotcom/status/1270596182264479744
While Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing explains that he didn’t want them there for specific reasons, he didn’t explain those reasons. The staff member in question saw Malaz tweet and confirmed as much with a tweet of her own:
LMAO I did it. And that is how i lost the first job ever after almost 3 years of tolerating discrimination and racism towards Africans.
Sometimes you have to take the bullet for others and he deserves someone to tell him that he is Racist and Yes he is RACIST 4 fact. https://t.co/lRVjfosQCg
— Naima Ablaal (@Naima_Ablaal) June 10, 2020
If all this is true, Malaz exposé as to how deeply ingrained racism is in the Lim Kok Wing University culture is just shocking. Even staff members seem to be racist under the guise of what Lim Kok Wing wants:
https://twitter.com/malazdotcom/status/1270611622424219648
Malaz tweets on the issue has given other people of colour who have been the victims in Lim Kok Wing University the courage to speak up about their experiences with discrimination as well.
https://twitter.com/malazdotcom/status/1270662177075212288
https://twitter.com/malazdotcom/status/1270733249346777088
https://twitter.com/malazdotcom/status/1270767661610340352
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Some people have reached out to Malaz warning her to be careful of the supposedly nasty things that Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing might do to take her down.
https://twitter.com/malazdotcom/status/1270758646633422854
In the Twitter thread, Malaz also exposes an unhealthy work culture at Lim Kok Wing where staff work until midnight without overtime pay and have to deal with 3am WhatsApp messages.
https://twitter.com/malazdotcom/status/1271112659841290241
The whole situation is a lot to unpack, and given how it seems like the culture at the University has been notoriously racist for the longest time now, Malaz has pleaded with Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing and the senior management of the university to take the following action:
https://twitter.com/malazdotcom/status/1271150539930296324
https://twitter.com/malazdotcom/status/1271150544275603456
https://twitter.com/malazdotcom/status/1271150549606563841
It’s worth noting that as of this point, these are all just accusations. But with so many people coming forward to complain about the same thing, it’s hard to deny Malaz and the issue of racism in Malaysia the attention and spotlight it deserves.
You can read the entire thread HERE. Let us know what you guys make of this in comments!
