Racism: MCA itself helped draft Federal Constitution, says Aziz Bari

Constitutional law expert Abdul Aziz Bari said MCA was partly responsible for the current Federal Constitution which the party is now complaining had accentuated racism.

"Don't forget MCA took part – together with Umno – in the drafting of the Federal Constitution unlike DAP, PKR or Amanah all of whom have to play within the framework which, given the political landscape now, cannot be amended.

"Over the years, the constitution has been amended and what we have now may not represent the original draft; something which again MCA has got to share the blame," he said in a statement today.

Abdul Aziz was responding to MCA religious harmony bureau chief Ti Lian Ker who claimed the provisions for race and religion in the Federal Constitution had accentuated inherent racism on top of institutions and administrations that were tainted with racial and religious sentiments.

Abdul Aziz said there were too many examples of how Umno put its policies and preferences above the constitution like the New Economic Policy and the 30 percent quota policy which was never mentioned in Article 153 of the constitution.

Article 153 concerns the special position of the bumiputera community in the country.

"We have seen how critics were investigated for sedition for questioning such Umno policies.

"If we look at the constitution, it is indeed very fair, and this is obvious when one looks at the legitimate interests.

"So MCA should have trained its gun on Umno and not the constitution," he said.

Abdul Aziz said while the Federal Constitution was not perfect, it should not be blamed when the problem has not been looked at exhaustively.

"The main problem is the way the ruling party, especially Umno, understands the constitution.

"And MCA, despite occasional outbursts like today, has been conspicuously silent on that," he added.