Malays have many children, tough for others to be PM: Mat Sabu

 

The opposition deliberately played up the issue of a non-Malay becoming the prime minister so that it could appear to be the defenders of the Malays, said Amanah president Mohamad Sabu.

Mohamad said the matter had been established in the Federal Constitution and there was no need for it to be debated.

“A non-Malay prime minister is (enshrined) in the constitution but the Malays are still the majority, so why discuss this matter... It was deliberately played up to create a perception.

“The Malays are increasingly having more children, while the Chinese do not want to.

“This is deliberately played up to trap the minds of the people so that Perikatan Nasional (is seen) saving their (the Malays) position,” he told reporters after launching the party’s youth wing national convention in Kuala Lumpur today.

Also present was Amanah Youth chief Hasbi Muda.

Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, said the issue was played up as the opposition was worried because a number of its MPs had declared support for Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership.

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang recently came under fire from pro-Malay groups and politicians after raising the possibility of a non-Malay being appointed prime minister. Lim has also been summoned by the police over this.

Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal

Bersatu lawmaker Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal urged Anwar to amend the Federal Constitution to ensure that the post is reserved exclusively for Malay Muslims.

Wan Fayhsal also claimed the move would help Anwar’s coalition government reclaim lost ground among the Malay electorate.

However, Anwar was reported as saying yesterday that there was no need for such amendments.

“So far, there’s no need, no serious discussion,” he was cited as saying by The Star.

He was also quoted as saying that the prime minister will continue to be a Malay.

Anwar, who is also Harapan chairperson, said the issue of a non-Malay becoming the prime minister was played up by the opposition to create disunity among the country’s multiracial community.

Vote banks

Meanwhile, Mohamad, during his opening speech at the convention, expressed confidence that the coalition government will continue to be chosen to govern the country in the next general election.

This, he said, was because the respective alliances - Pakatan Harapan, BN, GPS and GRS - that formed the government have strong support in the states that are administered by them.

“We have vote banks in Sabah, Sarawak, Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Federal Territories and Penang.

“When we look at the political development and atmosphere in these states, God willing, we (will get) enough majority to form a government (in GE16),” he added. - Mkini