VIDEO INSERTED KUALA LUMPUR - Former Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan has weighed in on the growing criticism against Prime Minister Najib Razak for unveiling a package of incentives specially for the Malays but leaving out the other races, agreeing that it was "unconstitutional" and could prove to be be dis-unifying.
The highly-respected Ambiga, who is also co-chair of free and fair polls movement BERSIH, lashed out at Najib's Umno-BN government for rolling out the plan that has been widely condemned as being racist and even immoral.
"To me, it is clear the government is not interested in unity and I was horrified when the Deputy Prime Minister said he didn't care what anybody else thought about it. I am aware this is all to do with the Umno general assembly but that is no excuse. You are the govt, you are the government of all people. I am horrified at the way this whole thing came about," Ambiga told Malaysia Chronicle.
She was at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya attending the hearing of the government's appeal against the acquittal of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim from sodomy charges.
We don't care what the non-Malays have to say
Najib had over the weekend unveiled the Bumiputera Economic Empowerment Agenda, a new plan that includes a slew of economic programs as well as cash aid aimed to help Malays and the indigenous folk financially.
"For me, today is a very lucky day and indeed the most-awaited event. We are not apologetic or worried if the non-bumiputeras or even the international communities see this as something concerning only a certain group," Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on Saturday in an immediate response to the announcement.
"For us, what matters most is the bumiputera agenda and we truly respect the prime minister's firmness and courage," Bernama had quoted Muhyiddin as saying.
Apartheid, immoral and unconstitutional
Not unexpectedly, the plan was condemned by the minorities in the country, with many describing it as moving Malaysia backwards and into an archaic apartheid system of racial segregation and favoritism.
Many have also denounced the plan as being against Malaysia's federal constitution.
"The consensus was that it is unconstitutional because if you read the constitution, there are specifics given as to the kind of incentives that can be given and this falls outside of that. If you look at the 4 corners of the constitution, it doesn't appear to be be what was intended," said Ambiga.
Other leaders including Member of Parliament for Padang Serai N Surendran and Member of Parliament for Serdang Ong Kian Ming have not minced their words either.
"Najib's announcement on the new measures and strategies to empower the Bumiputera economy just two days prior to Malaysia Day is divisive, unnecessary and in the long-run damaging to the economic and social cohesion of the country," said Kian Ming.
"Among the benefits announced are contracts worth billions from Petronas; a new Amanah Saham Bumiputra scheme; Mara, Tekun, Ikhtiar, Superb funds; race-based housing; GLC participation etc," said Surendran.
"All these benefits are solely for bumiputras! This new racial economic plan is unreasonable, unlawful, unconstitutional and racist. Article 153 of the Federal Constitution which allows very specific and limited quotas for Bumiputras, does not permit wide-ranging race-based economic discrimination as set out in this new plan."
"The Bumiputra Economic Empowerment plan thus falls foul of Article 8 of the Federal Constitution and is blatantly discriminatory. Nothing in the Constitution allows the government to set up massive funds, share schemes, housing developments and contracts, for the benefit of one race only. Such racial discrimination is not only in breach of our laws and Constitution, but also international human rights standards. It also reeks of massive immorality," Surendran added.
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