PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said there is no need to review Article 153 of the Federal Constitution which touches on Bumiputera privileges.
He said this in response to a PKR lawmaker who had earlier on urged the upcoming Bumiputera Economic Congress 2024 (KEB 2024) to review if the Bumiputera privileges under Article 153 actually benefitted the group.
“We will defend the Constitution’s provision, including Article 153. There is no need to discuss it, it’s in the Constitution,” Anwar told reporters at the 15th International Conference on Islamic Economics and Finance at Sasana Kijang on Tuesday (Feb 20).
Under Article 153, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is granted the power and responsibility to safeguard the special position of the Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak and the legitimate interests of other communities.
The provision goes on provide that this includes the establishment of quotas for entry into the civil services, public scholarships and education.
Previously, Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim called on the upcoming Bumiputera Economic Congress to review whether Article 153 was actually helping Bumiputera or had only benefited a select few elites to the detriment of others.
In a statement on Sunday (Feb 18) he further called on the economic congress to look into the notion of race-based policies.
He said with the upcoming congress, the focus should be on the B60 class – which is the majority of the people who need support and economic assistance – if the congress wants to be honestly inclusive.
This was not the first time Hassan had raised similar concerns. As far back as November 2021, the lawmaker had called for Article 153 to be revised so that actions could be revamped to be more need-based instead.
Previously, Anwar had said KEB 2024 – scheduled to take place from Feb 29 to March 2 – will be more inclusive with cooperation and joint participation from the Chinese and Indian communities to help tackle the problem of poverty while also discussing issues related to the Bumiputera economy.
The prime minister also said he would invite business chamber leaders representing the Malay, Chinese and Indian communities to provide their views and input so that KEB 2024 is not considered exclusive. – Feb 20, 2024
Main pic credit: Bernama
