PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has continued to champion his call that “Malaysia is a Malay country" despite the loud criticisms from moderates who defended multiculturalism.
In a Twitter post, he said it is not wrong to voice his views as it is his right under the democratic freedom of speech, but the Federal Constitution has never claimed that Malaysia is a multi-racial country.
"Ramkarpal Singh's accusation that I am not promoting Malaysia as a multi-ethnic country is not in accordance with the Constitution is wrong.
"In terms of freedom of speech, it is not wrong. But the Federal Constitution does not claim that Malaysia is a multi-racial country.
"With the national language, customs, and with the Malay monarchy, the Constitution confirms that this country is a Malay country.
"Accepting citizens from other races does not make Malaysia a multi-racial country.
"Look at the situation in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, although many other nationalities become citizens, these countries do not become multi-national countries.
"They still remain and their race is still British, American or Australian - not British Indian, German American or Malayan Australian," said Dr Mahathir.
He added that granting legal protection to foreigners who have been granted citizenship is common, but does not turn the country into a multi-ethnic country.
"The Constitution is the founding law that must be respected, but the Constitution can be amended if 2/3 of the Members of Parliament agree.
"If an agreement is reached, Malaysia can be converted into a multi-racial country," he said, adding that the “Malay country will disappear”.
"If the Malays want to eliminate the ‘Malayness’ of this country, just support the interpretation of this country as a multi-racial country," he said.
On Wednesday, Deputy Law and Institutional Reform Minister Ramkarpal Singh described Dr Mahathir's earlier statement as legally groundless, for claiming that it is unconstitutional to promote Malaysia as a multi-racial country.
Ramkarpal said the statement by Dr Mahathir - who served as prime minister for 23 years and had never questioned Malaysia's status as a multi-ethnic and multi-racial country during that period - is deeply regrettable, especially when he himself recognised Malaysia as a multi-ethnic and multi-racial nation during the same period.
