Tun Dr Mahathir has written to the YDP Agong to appoint Tommy Thomas, an Indian Christian, as the new Attorney General. The Agong and all the sultans wanted Tun Dr Mahathir to submit 3 Malays for them to select and appoint. They all wanted a Malay AG to protect the Malay rights. TDM just ignored their request.  

TDM did not even say a word. Obviously TDM is not going to obey. He knows under the Federal Constitution, he has the right as the Prime Minister to appoint the AG and getting the Agong’s consent is only a formality.

TDM is fully aware that there are 4 component political parties in Pakatan Harapan and all decisions must be consensus. The selection of the AG, Ministers and other important appointments must be discussed and agreed by all the party leaders.

No political leader is talking about Malay rights. 

What are the Malay rights?  

The supreme law of the country is our Federal Constitution (FC). That means every law and policy must follow the FC. Firstly, it says that the Agong has the responsibility to safeguard the “special position” of the Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak. Notice that the words used are “special position”, not “special rights.” Notice also that the safeguarding is not only restricted to the Malays but also the natives of Sabah and Sarawak (the “Natives”).

But that is not all. It also says that the Agong is also responsible to safeguard the “legitimate interests” of other communities.

Notice the differences at what is being safeguarded. As for the Malays and the Natives, it is their special position. While in respect of other communities, it is their legitimate interests.

Every law and policy must be in adherence with the FC. Otherwise, such law or policy would be void for being unconstitutional.

We therefore have to look at the provisions of the FC to determine these so-called rights of the Malays. All persons are equal before the law.

There shall be no discrimination against citizens on the ground of religion, race, descent, place of birth or gender except as expressly authorised by the FC.

The FC defines a Malay as a person who professes the religion of Islam, habitually speaks the Malay language and conforms to Malay custom.

It is not a scientific definition. How could you define Malay as a person who speaks Malay and conforms to Malay custom when the very word which was sought to be defined in that definition is the word “Malay”? It is like defining a “mango” as “a fruit which tastes like mango”.

In 1970 our GDP per capita is about the same as that in Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea. After 48 years, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea are 4, 3 and 2.5 times our GDP per capita respectively. All these countries do not even have timber to build their houses. They import almost things.

How could they become developed Nations and we could not?

The biggest obstacle is the new economic policy (NEP), Malay rights, introduced in 1970. The policy was good but the implementation was bad. The Barisan National Government gave out large contracts and concessions without open competitive tenders. Contract prices were inflated for bribing the officials. As a result, Malaysia is still not a fully developed nation.

About 6 months ago when TDM was campaigning at Padang Rengas, Perak, I gave him a copy of my book “Malaysia: Road Map to Vision 2020” which I published in 2012.

Ever since Pakatan Harapan won control of PutraJaya, TDM has appointed several Ministers especially Lim Guan Eng as the finance minister. He has requested all the coalition parties to submit names so that he can appoint ministers to fill up all the remaining ministries after consultation with them.

No coalition party leader is talking about Malay rights. They are concentrating on Malaysian rights.

Based on TDM’s performance within such a short time, I strongly believe Pakatan Harapan will make Malaysia a fully developed Nation soon.