It’s constitutional to promote Malaysia as multiracial country, says PRS

KUCHING: Promoting a multiracial Malaysia is constitutional and upholds the right to equality, contrary to former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's claims, says Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).

Its deputy information chief Andy Lawrence said Article 153 of the Federal Constitution provided for special privileges of the Malays as well as natives of Sabah and Sarawak.

"It is not only to protect the Malays but other races as well. Therefore it can be argued that promoting a multiracial Malaysia is not unconstitutional but based on the Constitution," he said in a statement on Tuesday (July 4).

Andy also said the Constitution enshrined the right to equality under Article 8, guaranteeing that all individuals are equal before the law and prohibiting discrimination based on race or religion.

"Promoting a multiracial Malaysia can be seen as upholding this constitutional right to equality," he said.

He was responding to Dr Mahathir's statement that it was unconstitutional to promote a multiracial nation as the Federal Constitution did not state that Malaysia was multiracial.

"I'm just raising the provisions of the Constitution. Is it against the law to defend the Constitution?

"Instead, what is against the Constitution is promoting a multiracial country.

"Is the government going against the rule of law - including the Constitution - which did not mention that Malaysia is a multiracial country? Instead, the Constitution stresses a Malay-Malaysia," Dr Mahathir said on Monday (July 3).

Calling Dr Mahathir's remarks out of touch with reality, Andy said the former premier appeared to have forgotten that he urged Malaysians to celebrate diversity and uphold harmony in his Chinese New Year message in 2019.

He also said one way the Federal Government promoted multiracial harmony was through celebrating festivals like Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Gawai Dayak and Kaamatan.

"It is worth noting that these celebrations have taken place even during Dr Mahathir's tenure as prime minister which spanned over 22 years and 22 months," he added.