In paying tribute to the late Economy Ministry deputy secretary-general (Macro) V Valluvan, whom he described as a “friend and true patriot”, former economy minister Rafizi Ramli has also lifted the lid on what he believes is a glass ceiling confronting Indian Malaysians in the civil service.

His account of the obstacles he encountered in trying to secure Valluvan's promotion to one of the ministry's top posts reignites questions over racial representation and whether non-Malays face institutional barriers to career advancement in the public sector.

The issue is not new. Non-Malays have long been severely underrepresented in the civil service, fuelling perceptions that they face discrimination and unequal opportunities to rise through its ranks.