MACHANG MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad’s recommendation for the Federal Constitution to be amended so that only Muslim Malays can be prime minister is “textbook racism”, Lawyers for Liberty director Zaid Malek said.

Zaid said it is “dangerous, reckless and unnecessary” to tamper with the constitution along racial and religious lines.

“Twisting and mutilating” the constitution to kill the values of democracy and equality would also leave Malaysia without the moral authority to speak out on equality on the international stage, whether in connection with Palestine or any other matter, Zaid said.

He said it is unthinkable that a sitting MP would suggest introducing something akin to apartheid by attempting to instil racism in the highest law of the land.

“And let’s not split hairs, this proposal is textbook racism.”

Wan Fayhsal, who is the Barsatu youth chief, proposed the amendment to “restore confidence” among the Malays who were perturbed by DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang’s recent remarks that the Federal Constitution does not bar a non-Malay from being prime minister.

Zaid said any such amendment would eventually be struck down by the courts.

He said such an amendment would clash with article 8 of the Federal Constitution which enshrines the principle of equality before the law.

“Introducing such a racist and divisive amendment into the constitution would ultimately destroy the very meaning of the constitution and the principles it upholds.”

He said the fear mongering stoked by Wan Fayshal and his cohorts has no basis in law as the position of the Malays and Islam cannot be easily altered.

“It requires the consent of the Council of Rulers to do so as required by article 159 of the Federal Constitution. This measure of protection in itself is already enough to dismiss the baseless fears conjured up by the Machang MP.”

Zaid said even though race is not mentioned in the constitution, by convention the PM has come from the majority race.

“The constitution thus allows flexibility and pragmatism. Limiting the role of prime minister along racial and religious lines may fracture the fine balancing achieved by our constitution as it exists,” he said.

“This abhorrent suggestion by the Bersatu MP must be immediately rejected by the prime minister and government and condemned unequivocally.” – December 15, 2023.