The biggest issue we face as a minority is the non-recognition of the Sikhs within the government statistical demographic identification system. We are lumped as ‘Indian’ in all official documents and there exist “NO” identification as a separate ethnic group at all levels of government. A consequence of being listed under the larger “Indian” bracket is that the Sikhs have been displaced. As a result of this anomaly the only Sikhs who have been identified are the Sikh professionals and the Sikh middle class, not on account of a separate classification group but by dint of their personal achievements and apparent high profile. The Sikh poor, on the other hand are subsumed in the larger Indian group. It is thus not surprising that most Malaysians regard the Sikhs as a thriving community to be emulated by others in Malaysia, when in fact there is no basis for this; the Sikh Community has the same problems as the others but loses out on the help it can, and should, get from the Government. After many representations and discussions, the government of Malaysia in the on going census 2010 exercise did finally add the Sikhs as an independent group for the first time. This will help us to exactly know our strengths and effectively address our priorities.

OUR VISION

The Malaysian Sikh Union has been actively pursuing the agenda of Sikh Unity in the country for the betterment of the Sikh community. The Malaysian Sikh Union’s activity has been confined to several areas through working with its branches. Specifically MSU has undertaken projects on the following fronts: