DAP veteran Datuk Teng Chang Khim has recently come under fire from the rightist fraternity for boldly mooting the notion that Tanah Melayu no longer exists following the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
In a Facebook post which has since been taken down – but screenshot of it preserved – the former Selangor State Legislative Assembly speaker (2008-2013) pointed to Article 1(1) of the Federal Constitution which provides that “the Federation shall be known as Malaysia”.
Added the former six-term DAP state assemblyman whose maiden stint was as the Bukit Gasing rep in 1995:
“The name Tanah Melayu ended with the coming into being of the Federal Constitution. Period.”
But such notion became a point of contention soon after Muslim convert preacher Firdaus Wong Wai Hung highlighted that a Facebooker revealed that Teng “was using an old Federal Constitution copy instead of the latest one”.
“Article 1(2) was amended in 2021 but Teng has allegedly relied on the old Federal Constitution,” surmised the founder of NGO Multiracial Reverted Muslims (MRM).
Editor’s Note: “Tanah Melayu” only appears in the Malay version of the Federal Constitution while the English version spells it out as “the States of the Federation”.
Never mind that he was swamped by rightists including the renowned UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh who ticked off the University of London-trained lawyer over his unfounded fear of the UMNO-PAS ummah unity, it is interesting to see Teng’s own race joining the fray to school him.
Leading the pack was language and unity expert Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Teo Kok Seong who reiterated that Malaysia was formed from three entities namely Tanah Melayu, Sabah and Sarawak.
According to the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) principal fellow of the Institute of Ethnic Studies (KITA), argument on the matter should not only be based on Article 1(1) of the Federal Constitution alone but should be read alongside Article 1(2) which has been amended through Act A1642 which came into force on February 11, 2022.
“The term Tanah Melayu also refers to the region in Peninsular Malaysia and not to Malaysia as a whole,” contended the 73-year-old Kelantanese Straits Chinese.
“When we mention Malaysia, this refers to a Federation consisting of Tanah Melayu, Sabah and Sarawak. So it’s not wrong to continue using the terms Malaya or Tanah Melayu.”
Elsewhere vocal Madani critic Datuk Eric See-To not only slammed Teng for “having to delete his FB after noticing his own error” but went a step further to demand the latter’s sacking as the SME Corp chairman for “his foolishness and tendency to stir up controversies”.
“A chairman of a government agency should build the confidence of all races, not publish posts that belittle the historical heritage of one of the country’s largest communities,” mocked the former Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy strategic communications director in a FB rant.
Therefore, the question is not whether he can cite Article 1(1). Of course he can.
The question is whether someone with such considerations is still fit to chair a government agency that needs to serve Malay, Chinese, Indian, Bumiputera Sabah and Sarawak entrepreneurs fairly.
Malaysia is the name of our country. Tanah Melayu is part of the historical roots and legacy of this country. Respecting one doesn’t’ require us to disrespect the other.
Saving the spiciest condemnation for the last, Muslim convert preacher Ridhuan Tee Abdullah disputed “claim by the ultra kiasu infidel that there’s no more Tanah Melayu”.
“How can that be when the name MALAYsia itself is Tanah Melayu,” fumed the Muafakat Nasional deputy president in a FB post.
Tanah Melayu is forever Tanah Melayu in the Malay Archipelago. Just like Tanah Haram (illegal land), it will always be Tanah Haram.
Therefore, ban the ultra kiasu infidel party (DAP) … prohibit our hands from voting for them in the Negeri Sembilan state polls (Aug 1).
The left hand pledges loyalty to the country while the right hand looks for another country. Can we trust an infidel leader like this? – July 31, 2026
