Ng was responding to a participant at a forum here today who questioned if it was necessary to state one’s race on employment forms.

“There will be situations when ethnicity is important. In terms of diversity, we want to know how rich this country is and how many ethnicities it has.

“I think this sort of information would be very important when it comes to research. But I agree that it’s not necessary for matters of employment because why would race matter?” he said.

The forum on perspectives from the business community and private sector was part of the Sejahtera Malaysia event hosted by KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific, Dialog Rakyat, and UCSI University.

Fellow panellist and human resources professional Asohan Satkunasingham concurred with Ng in advocating for the removal of details like race and gender from employment forms.

He said embracing diversity is not always easy as it frequently runs against obstacles such as cultural barriers and “unconscious bias”, but doing so can help businesses tap into new markets.

Asohan also drew parallels between national unity and the push for diversity in the corporate world, saying that progress is tied to the celebration of diversity.

“A study by McKinsey found that companies embracing diversity are 35% more likely to outperform their peers,” he said, citing a 2015 study by the American multinational management consulting firm.

“Diversity brings fresh perspectives, ideas and innovation to the table where employees feel valued, included and valued.

“They are more engaged and productive, leading to better business outcomes. The same goes for us as a nation. When diversity is celebrated, we progress tremendously.”

Asohan said national unity creates a stable environment that is essential for business growth and investments.

“When society is cohesive, there’s less risk of unrest or disputes that could harm businesses,” he said.