Saifuddin: Article 153 misinterpreted too often

GMM's Saifuddin says some people forget that the article is about four privileges only.

PETALING JAYA: There is a persistent but mistaken belief that bumiputeras are entitled to housing discounts under Article 153 of the Federal Constitution, according to the Chief Executive Officer of the Global Movement of Moderates (GMM), Saifuddin Abdullah.

Some parties would misinterpret the Federal Constitution to fit their own narrative, he said today at a youth centric “Voices of Moderation” forum.

Responding to a student’s question regarding certain special privileges enjoyed by bumiputeras , Saifuddin said, “Article 153 is not about everything. This is what some people forget, or purposely forget.

“Article 153 is only about four things, including recruitment into the civil service. But you must read Article 153 together with Article 136, where once you are recruited into the civil service, everything must be based on merit.”

He advised that Article 153 shouldn’t be “over-cashed” and misinterpreted to include other privileges such as housing discounts.

Housing discounts are fine if developers utilise the discount scheme as a marketing tool to attract bumiputera house owners to particular housing projects, according to Saifuddin, but discounts are not compulsory under Article 153.

“No one can force developers to sell a certain portion of the houses they build with a 10% discount,” he said. “That’s unconstitutional.”

Saifuddin lamented the disparities between Malays and Orang Asal as a result of the selective implementation of affirmative action under Article 153.

“Many Sabahans and Sarawakians feel that even though they are part of Article 153, they are not treated the same way,” he said. “They feel they are second class citizens compared to the Malays in the peninsula.”

Article 153 provides for a reasonable proportion of opportunities in four specific areas for Malays and Orang Asal: intake into the civil service, intake into institutions of higher learning and training opportunities, government scholarships, and opportunities to do business with the government.

The second prong of the article states that non-Malays have legitimate interests.