Right-wing group Perkasa insists that the requirement that the premier must come from a majority race is implied in the Federal Constitution.
KUALA LUMPUR: Ultra Malay group Perkasa insisted today that the post of prime minister is reserved only for a Malay-Muslim.
Independent constitutional experts have argued that there are no provisions that state the premier must be a Malay-Muslim, but Perkasa women’s wing Youth chief Zaira Jaafar argued otherwise.
She said the sovereignty of the Malay Rulers was enshrined in the Federal Constitution, so the post (of prime minister) must be filled by a figure from the majority race.
“It is implied,” she told reporters after lodging a police report on Utusan Malaysia’s article that Christian leaders wanted to abolish Islam as the official religion.
“If we refer to the constitution, then a prime minister does not have to be a Muslim but the provision must be read together and not separately because the articles are all interconnected.
“Under Article 181 on the sovereignty of the Malay Rulers, we understand that a king has to be a Malay and professes Islam,” Zaira said.
Ironically, Perkasa’s backer, influential former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, agreed with the view that no provisions in the Federal Constitution state that the post must be filled by a Malay-Muslim.
However, he reminded the Malays that the post may be taken by a non-Malay should the country’s majority electorate remain divided.
The police report, based on blog postings by several pro-Umno bloggers, had charged the DAP with sedition for allegedly trying to change the country’s laws to allow a Christian prime minister.
The only evidence it has was a grainy photograph showing what they alleged was a secret pact between the opposition party and pastors from Sarawak at a hotel in Penang last Wednesday.
Big issue
Umbrella church groups like the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) and partners – Global Day of Prayer, Marketplace Penang and Penang Pastors Fellowship – dismissed the allegations as lies.
DAP leaders, who have also refuted the allegation, have accused Utusan of lying and have lodged police reports over the matter.
Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has called for calm, saying that the matter should be investigated first.
Article 43(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution states only that the Yang diPertuan Agong shall appoint as prime minister a member of Parliament who in his judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the Dewan Rakyat.
Opposition leaders argue that the continued attack on the Christian community by Utusan and groups like Perkasa is undermining Najib’s attempt to bring the divided races together under his 1Malaysia banner.
Zaira denied Perkasa is sabotaging Najib’s 1Malaysia. She said that her outfit was only interested in unravelling the truth behind the allegations.
“Many police reports have been lodged and we are only doing the same because it’s a big issue. We know that many have yet to understand the Federal Constitution,” she said.
Zaira Jaafar, centre, with Perkasa colleagues
KUALA LUMPUR: Ultra Malay group Perkasa insisted today that the post of prime minister is reserved only for a Malay-Muslim.
Independent constitutional experts have argued that there are no provisions that state the premier must be a Malay-Muslim, but Perkasa women’s wing Youth chief Zaira Jaafar argued otherwise.
She said the sovereignty of the Malay Rulers was enshrined in the Federal Constitution, so the post (of prime minister) must be filled by a figure from the majority race.
“It is implied,” she told reporters after lodging a police report on Utusan Malaysia’s article that Christian leaders wanted to abolish Islam as the official religion.
“If we refer to the constitution, then a prime minister does not have to be a Muslim but the provision must be read together and not separately because the articles are all interconnected.
“Under Article 181 on the sovereignty of the Malay Rulers, we understand that a king has to be a Malay and professes Islam,” Zaira said.
Ironically, Perkasa’s backer, influential former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, agreed with the view that no provisions in the Federal Constitution state that the post must be filled by a Malay-Muslim.
However, he reminded the Malays that the post may be taken by a non-Malay should the country’s majority electorate remain divided.
The police report, based on blog postings by several pro-Umno bloggers, had charged the DAP with sedition for allegedly trying to change the country’s laws to allow a Christian prime minister.
The only evidence it has was a grainy photograph showing what they alleged was a secret pact between the opposition party and pastors from Sarawak at a hotel in Penang last Wednesday.
Big issue
Umbrella church groups like the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) and partners – Global Day of Prayer, Marketplace Penang and Penang Pastors Fellowship – dismissed the allegations as lies.
DAP leaders, who have also refuted the allegation, have accused Utusan of lying and have lodged police reports over the matter.
Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has called for calm, saying that the matter should be investigated first.
Article 43(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution states only that the Yang diPertuan Agong shall appoint as prime minister a member of Parliament who in his judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the Dewan Rakyat.
Opposition leaders argue that the continued attack on the Christian community by Utusan and groups like Perkasa is undermining Najib’s attempt to bring the divided races together under his 1Malaysia banner.
Zaira denied Perkasa is sabotaging Najib’s 1Malaysia. She said that her outfit was only interested in unravelling the truth behind the allegations.
“Many police reports have been lodged and we are only doing the same because it’s a big issue. We know that many have yet to understand the Federal Constitution,” she said.
1 comment:
Nonsense, Malaysia had a Mamak as the PM for 22 years.
Perkasa are real goons.
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