KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) today slammed Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad over his constitution remarks with the party saying the former two-time prime minister is getting detached from reality.
PRS deputy information chief Andy Lawrence, who was referring to Dr Mahathir’s claim that it is unconstitutional to promote a multiracial country, said the latter seems to have forgotten his own Chinese New Year message in 2019 where he urged Malaysians to celebrate diversity and uphold harmony within the country.
“He was promoting a multiracial Malaysia then,” Andy said in a statement today.
Andy said while Article 153 of the Federal Constitution accords special privileges to the Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak, it also protects other races.
“Meaning, it not only protects the Malays, but the other races too. Therefore, it can be argued that promoting a multiracial Malaysia is not unconstitutional based on the Constitution,” he said.
He added the Federal Constitution enshrines the right to equality under Article 8, and this provision guarantees that all individuals are equal before the law and prohibits discrimination based on race, religion or creed.
“Promoting a multiracial Malaysia can be seen as upholding this constitutional right to equality,” he stressed.
The federal government, he said, has implemented various initiatives to promote multiculturalism and national unity through events and programmes to provide platforms for Malaysians from different backgrounds to come together and build a stronger, more inclusive nation such as 1Malaysia concept, Keluarga Malaysia, National Unity Blueprint and Kembara Perpaduan Malaysia MADANI.
“The recognition of cultural heritage, such as celebrating festivals like Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Gawai Dayak and Kaamatan, can be considered as a way for the federal government to promote a multiracial Malaysia as we are now.
“It is worth noting that these celebrations have taken place even during Dr Mahathir’s tenure as prime minister, spanning over 22 years and 22 months,” he added.
