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Koh: Malay supremacy not in Constitution |
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Posted by admin
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Monday, 01 December 2008 13:35 |
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(NST) - The constitutional reference to the kedudukan istimewa (special position) of the Malays must be respected in the same way as the rights and interests of other races, Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said yesterday.
He said the question of ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy) did not arise as it was not contained in the Federal Constitution.
Dr Koh said the right term to be used in relation to the special position of the Malays was kedudukan istimewa as contained in Article 153 and not ketuanan Melayu.
He said this when asked to comment on MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek's remark that the concept of Malay supremacy was no longer relevant.
Koh said ketuanan Melayu carried the connotation of a tuan (master) and hamba (slave) relationship.
"Article 153 of the Federal Constitution talks about the special position of the Malays, as well as the valid rights and interests of other races," he said, adding that it must be read in totality.
Koh said there was no need for anyone to dispute the matter, adding that the Constitution had to be the basis of reference on the issue.
He noted that the basic rights of all Malaysians were enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
"The interests of all Malaysians, especially in current times of an economic downturn, should be top priority," he said after opening the Gerakan life members' council annual general meeting yesterday.
Koh urged the Federal Government to revise the poverty line every six months. He said this was because the prices of goods had been increasing while salaries had not.
"Hence, there may be people who have fallen under the poverty line. Also, purchasing power has gone down. We have to figure out how to help the average Malaysian worker."
Koh said the Federal Government should identify groups that had been affected by the economic slowdown.
He said Gerakan's bureaus had been revamped to better articulate the party's position and deal more effectively with major issues of public concern that had been identified.
Koh said the new bureaus which had been formed included the legislature liaison bureau, government administrative affairs bureau, environment, safety and quality of life bureau and public health and social development bureau.
"Every bureau will be supported by the party's think tank, Sedar Institute, for information and research and by the party's central secretariat for administrative support."
Koh said some bureau chiefs were already recruiting bureau committee members.
"Every central committee member not heading any bureau has been instructed to participate in at least two bureaus."
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The Blogs 
Too bad Tan Sri. Should have done that earlier!