Corporate Social Responsibility CSR and Ethnic Diversity in Malaysia: Contestations of Ethical Ratio

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Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Ethnic
Diversity in Malaysia Contestations of Ethical
Rationalities

• 16th 17th June 2008
• Workshop on Possibilities of Religious Pluralism,
  
• Linkoping University

Reevany Ellisha
Bustami Nasruddin
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CSR in Malaysia

• Manifestations of CSR in Malaysia Philanthropy -
  Community, Environment, (Workplace Marketplace)
• One of the emerging issues
  diversity and inclusion Ethnic diversity (PM)
• Note Sweden diversity and inclusion gender
  diversity

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Brief Background

• Pre Independence
• 1957 Post Independence
• Ethnic riot 1969
• NEP two-prong strategy (1) eliminate poverty
  (2) restructure society ? ethnic-economic
  balance
• Development paradigm Expanding the economic pie
  while creating balance (growth with fair
  distribution)

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Contestation of rationalities
Meritocracy Rationality of Fair Play
Affirmative Action Rationality of Fair Share
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Scope of Diversity

• Ethnicity (religion), Gender, Class, Age
• 2. Geographical
• i. Peninsular Malaysia - Sabah Sarawak
• ii. East-coast - West Coast Malaysia
• iii. Rural Urban
• 3. Physical ability Persons with disability
• 4. Other stigmatized identities
• e.g. former inmates, drug users, single mothers,
  young adults with juvenile delinquency records,
  HIV Positive, immigrant families.

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Challenges / Problems

• Social inequality reflects Systemic Societal
  problem
• 2. In treating a problem with affirmative action,
  we do not want to create other problems, e.g. ?
  dependency / subsidized / entitlement mentality,
  problem of abuse,
• marginalization of the good.

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Three Solution Frameworks

• absolute affirmative action solution
• absolute meritocracy solution
• Situational (50-50, 60-40) solution

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Outstanding issue

• CSR should companies shoulder this
  responsibility?

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T
all hanks