Anti-racial discrimination
law could trigger May 13
repeat, claims PAS MP
Pengkalan Chepa MP Ahmad Marzuk Shaary fears such a law could serve as a ‘backdoor’ for the abolition of Bumiputera rights and disrupt racial harmony.
Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (PN-Pengkalan Chepa) told the Dewan Rakyat that an Anti-Racial Discrimination Act could serve as a backdoor for the abolition of Bumiputera rights and privileges.
He said this would disrupt Malaysia’s racial harmony.
“We must remember that tensions like these could spark racial unrest and lead to a repeat of the May 13, 1969 incident,” he said, referring to the racial riots in which hundreds were believed to have been killed.
Marzuk also questioned if the proposal floated by DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng went against Malaysia’s “social contract” and the foundation of the Federal Constitution.
“The special position of the Bumiputeras, as agreed in the independence negotiations, was a trade-off for granting citizenship to non-Bumiputeras,” he said.
The “social contract” does not exist in the Federal Constitution but is often used by politicians to describe the negotiations and decisions made between the Malay and non-Malay communities before independence.
Lim had proposed the enactment of an Anti-Racial Discrimination Act in light of racial issues involving political figures and extremists, citing a recent incident involving a hawker in Sepang.
The corn seller had sparked controversy by displaying a sign which contained a racist slur against Indians and stating that his produce was not for sale to Indians. He later apologised but has since been arrested by the police.
Lim said such a law was necessary to prevent “extremist politicians or irresponsible individuals” from engaging in hate speech and provocative acts, or spreading lies against a particular community to divide Malaysians.
Earlier today, national unity minister Aaron Ago Dagang shot down Lim’s proposal, saying an anti-racial discrimination law was unnecessary as there were existing laws that were adequate to tackle racial and religious offences.
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kt remarks:
Special privileges (not 'rights) for bumi were supposed to be ONLY for 15 years, but after May 13 (1969), the NEP became the "Never Ending Policy", and also became a "right" (rather than just "privilege") - utterly no shame at all. Terimakasih Tun.
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