Coffee chain apologises, retracts ‘racist’ job advertisement
After coming under fire for racial bias against Indians in a job advertisement, the OldTown White Coffee chain has apologised and retracted the offensive ad.
In a statement posted last night on Facebook, its top management said it had not been aware of the contents of the recruitment notice which was for a new outlet at Austin Heights, Johor Baru.
"On behalf of the franchisee, OldTown White Coffee management would like to sincerely apologise for the unacceptable and offensive content on the recruitment notice.
"As a home-grown Malaysian brand, we value everyone equally and it has never been our intention or the intention of the franchisee to make any individual feel slighted or offended in any way," its statement said.
A photo of the job advertisement was shared on social media platform Twitter on September 20. It had said that Malay and Chinese applicants were preferred.
Social media users expressed shock and some said they hoped it was a hoax.
The OldTown's statement said the directors of the company that owns the new franchise had said that the job application was "never meant to discriminate" but admitted "negligence".
"They have expressed their regret and sincere apologies," the statement said, adding that the job advertisement had since been removed.
Today, PKR Youth criticised the popular kopitiam restaurant chain, noting its apology but expressing worry that such underlying attitudes were still prevalent in society.
"This is an act of discrimination which cannot be accepted as Malaysia is a multi-racial country and job opportunities should be awarded fairly and not based on racial background," PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said in a statement today. Nik Nazmi is also the deputy speaker of the Selangor legislative assembly.
He noted that although the franchise owners had apologised, the underlying intention of wanting to hire based on race was worrying.
"If it wasn't for observant internet users who spotted this and cared enough to raise it, this kind of discriminatory attitude will continue without people realising it," said Nik Nazmi, who is also Seri Setia state assemblyperson and deputy speaker of the Selangor legislative assembly. – September 24, 2014.
