It looks like what began as an innocuous statement by DAP veteran Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang, quoting a provision in the Federal Constitution, had suddenly turned into a raging monsoon storm making the headlines in virtually every national newspaper in the country - and abroad too!
Not surprisingly, when Lim was quoted saying that it was possible for a non-Malay to become the prime minister of the country, the opposition were the first to react with Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal calling on the government to amend the Federal Constitution to restrict the prime ministership to Malay-Muslims only.
The Machang member of parliament added that the ex-DAP leader’s statement had caused anxiety among the Malays, who are the majority in the country; he then urged PM Anwar to use his two-thirds majority in parliament to amend the constitution accordingly as per his proposal.
As expected, the outspoken Bersatu youth leader received support for his suggestion from PAS with its deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man saying that the amendment would ensure the country’s stability and harmony; however, he did not elaborate exactly how Lim’s statement had caused distress among the Malaysian public.
On the other hand, Wan Fayhsal's controversial proposal was strongly condemned by several Sarawak leaders including state minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah who expressed disappointment that the PN MP would still resort to playing the racial and religious card; he reminded Wan Fayhsal that Malaysia is a multiracial and multi-religious country and that if it was to progress and be respected then its people need to do away with racist outlook.
Echoing this sentiment was another Sarawak leader, Julau MP Larry Sng, who said that the action by the PN leader would only stir up racial tensions, adding that bumiputeras from Borneo who are “non-Malays” should also be allowed to lead the country one day; as such, any amendment limiting the premiership to one race is discriminatory in nature.
For the record, Article 43(2)(a) in the country’s constitution merely states that a candidate eligible to be appointed as the country’s prime minister must be a MP who, in the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s judgement, is likely to command majority support.
Meanwhile, according to a report in the Star ex-PM Muhyiddin Yassin pointed out that the current political scenario in the country has changed post-GE15 where no single coalition has the majority to form the government on its own; he went on to express his fear that in the past, the system guaranteed that the Malays would become Prime Minister but this guarantee is no longer there.
Interestingly, the Bersatu chairman also highlighted the proposed plan to re-delineate certain constituencies, where according to him, parties (like DAP) may end up having a bigger voice in determining who becomes prime minister in the future; he further claimed that this is especially true in a political alliance which is dominated by DAP.
Matters then took another twist when rights group, Lawyers for Liberty (LFL), condemned the opposition’s call to limit the prime ministership to Malays with its director Zaid Malek likening it to a form of “apartheid” as it would legalise racism in the Federal Constitution.
He went on to clarify that there were sufficient safeguards concerning the position of the Malays and Islam in the Federal Constitution and that it cannot be that easily altered as it requires the consent of the Conference of Rulers, as required by Article 159 of the Federal Constitution; he further asserted that the proposal by Wan Fayhsal is “textbook racism” and in that regard Malaysia would have no moral authority left to speak out on the international stage, whether on Palestine or any other matter, if such a racist and discriminatory amendment is passed by parliament!
But, why exactly have the opposition leaders suddenly gone into a panic mode to harp on yet another racially-linked ‘non-issue’? Aren’t they aware that Malaysia also consists of bumiputeras from Sabah and Sarawak who also have the right to have one of their own to lead this multiracial nation? Or is the whole episode merely a political wayang kulit to provoke the Malay population - and to checkmate PM Anwar in the process? As it is, isn’t the country divided enough already?
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