The National Unity and Integration Department will come up with an action plan to tackle racial discrimination faced by Malays and Indians when they apply for jobs in the private sector, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department P Waythamoorthy said today.

"The department is looking into the matter and in the progress of formulating an action plan to overcome this issue," he said in a statement.

The activist-turn-politician was responding to a study carried out by the Centre for Governance and Political Studies, which found that Malays and Indians are likely to experience discrimination when applying for jobs.

Waythamoorthy said all Malaysians should be given equal employment opportunities.

"There should not be any form of discrimination in Malaysia. We would not know whether they are qualified without being given a chance.

"I hope the employers will focus on uniting the rakyat via employment for all races because this will optimise our workforce," said the de facto national unity minister.

'Do not destroy what we have built'

Waythamoorthy also cautioned politicians, particularly from the opposition, against harping on racial and religious sentiments to garner public support.

"The previous Umno administration under former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak chanted the '1Malaysia' slogan which promoted national unity and that we live as a big family.

"However, they have dumped this concept after they became the opposition. It is not healthy for a country that celebrated independence for 62 years. We should not harp on religious and racial issues.

"For the sake of the country, I advise all politicians to be careful of the statements they make. Do not destroy what we have built all this while," he added.