KUALA LUMPUR — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has today falsely accused the Anwar administration of attempting to turn Malaysia secular and multi-ethnic.

The former prime minister claimed in a brief Facebook post that promoting multiracialism is against the Federal Constitution, which he alleged instead endorses the “Malayness” of the country.

“Does the current government reject the Rule of Law including the Federal Constitution which never mentions Malaysia as a multi-ethnic country? On the other hand, the Federal Constitution emphasises the ‘Malayness’ of Malaysia,” he wrote.

Article 152 of the Constitution stipulates that the Malay language is the national language, while Article 153 handles the reservation of quotas for the Malays and Bumiputera.

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As reported by Malay Mail last year, DAP MPs only make up 27.8 per cent of the total government seats, and its proportion in the government is much less than in 2018 under Dr Mahathir.

Bumiputera MPs also still make up the bulk of the government.

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The position of Islam as the religion of the federation in the Constitution cannot simply be amended, and require the support of at least two-thirds of the Dewan Rakyat.

Dr Mahathir’s remark came after Bukit Gelugor Umno information chief Huzaidi Hussin had urged Dr Mahathir to cease dividing the nation by playing the racial card.

He said last month that there was no need for Dr Mahathir to continue stirring racial sentiments, as most Malaysians have moved on and are eagerly looking forward to witnessing Malaysia’s economic resurgence.

In response, Dr Mahathir said today that he is only voicing the provision in the Constitution, and defending it is not illegal.  MM

That’s enough, stop spinning stories, Dr M told

Three DAP MPs denounce Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s claim that Anwar Ibrahim is controlled by DAP.

DAP’s Dr Kelvin Yii, Syahredzan Johan and Young Syefura Othman have urged Dr Mahathir Mohamad to stop making accusations against their party.

PETALING JAYA: A trio of DAP MPs have hit out at Dr Mahathir Mohamad for claiming that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is “adhering to DAP’s manifesto” due to the party’s influence over the government.

Claiming that promoting a multi-ethnic country goes against Malaysia’s Federal Constitution, Mahathir said DAP’s 40 MPs could cause the government to collapse by withdrawing their support for Anwar’s administration.

“That is why Anwar must adhere to DAP’s manifesto, which specifically aims to make Malaysia a multi-ethnic country and replace Islam as the official religion with a secular state,” he said on Twitter earlier.

In response, Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii told Mahathir to stop inventing stories that may divide the nation.

“Don’t try to change history by coming up with an illogical narrative that creates a delusion, just to stay relevant,” Yii said in a series of Twitter posts.

Meanwhile, Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan said Mahathir’s claims had no basis, telling the former Pakatan Harapan chairman to stop making false accusations against DAP.

“The politics of scaring people with baseless propaganda is outdated, Tun,” he said.

Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman also dismissed Mahathir’s claims, saying: “Dear Tun, that’s enough.”

In a tweet, PKR’s Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim told Mahathir to refer to Article 153(1) of the Federal Constitution, which safeguards the special position of the Malays, the indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak, and the legitimate interests of other races in Malaysia.

“This means that Malaysia is a multi-ethnic country,” said Hassan, who is a lawyer by training.  FMT

MALAY MAIL / FREE MALAYSIA TODAY

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