KUCHING, Feb 22: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak State Leadership Council (MPN) Chairman, Roland Engan emphasises that the special privileges and rights of the Malays and the natives of Sarawak and Sabah should not be questioned.
Roland issued this comment in support of the Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s affirmation of continuing to uphold the Federal Constitution pertaining to Article 153.
Article 153 of the Federal Constitution gives Malays and the natives of Sarawak and Sabah special privileges and rights, and the Yang-di Pertuan Agong will be responsible in protecting the special position bestowed on the Malays and the natives of Sarawak and Sabah and the legal interests of other communities.
In further response to this, Roland contended that it is better to discuss the inclusion of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into the Federal Constitution or Act or Enactment.
“Inclusive government policies for all races, religions, cultures, and languages need to be developed under the concept of Malaysia Madani,” he added.
Anwar insisted that there was no need to review Article 153 in response to Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim’s previous call to review Bumiputera privileges due to his doubts if it (Article 153) had benefitted the group it was intended for.
The MP also questioned if the policy had been seized and manipulated by certain elite groups of Bumiputera.
“We will continue upholding the position of the Constitution, including Article 153,” said Anwar. — DayakDaily
