Prove constitution claim, Gerakan tells Perkasa

Gerakan Youth has challenged Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali to prove that removing the race column from official forms contravenes the Federal Constitution.

Its chief Tan Keng Liang (left) was responding to Ibrahim’sthreat to sue the government if it decided to drop the race column.

“Gerakan Youth urges Perkasa to seek proper legal advice before stating the removal of the  race column as unconstitutional.

“There’s no provision in the Federal Constitution that makes it mandatory for the government to include the race column in all official forms,” Tan added in a press statement.

He said the insertion of the race column in official forms is at the discretion of the government.

“As such, Gerakan Youth hereby challenges the Perkasa president to state which provision in the constitution makes it mandatory for the government to include the race column in official forms.

“We would like to remind Perkasa not to make empty threats if it can’t even state which provision in the Federal Constitution makes it compulsory,” he added.

Tan said Gerakan Youth believes that the removal of the race column in official forms is the way forward for Malaysia.

“Race discrimination must end,” he added.

Ibrahim’s threat came in the wake of news reports yesterday quoting Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Joseph Entulu that the cabinet decided to remove the race column from certain forms.

However, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak clarified this morning that no such decision was made.