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| Syed Hassan Syed Ali |
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 25 — Malay rights group Perkasa reminded today that Article 153 helped keep the country peaceful and that it should not be questioned after a Christian leader said it should be inclusive of all groups.
The group was responding to National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) chairman Reverend Dr Eu Hong Seng who said yesterday that the Federal Constitution’s Article 153 is akin to “bullying” if it only protects the rights of one group.
“The reverend needs to remember that Christians are able to practice their religion without worry in this country because of Article 153.
“This country is peaceful because of Article 153 which protects the rights of Bumiputras who are the majority in this country,” Perkasa Secretary-General Syed Hasan Syed Ali said in a statement.
Syed Hasan (picture)said the bloody race riots on May 13, 1969 happened because Article 153 was not exercised properly.
“Without Article 153, there will surely be tension and this issue has been considered by past leaders from difference races when they agreed to Article 153,” he said.
He also said the Christian leader should have focused on a healthy and appropriate speech and encouraged the people to live harmoniously instead of creating tension.
“This will never happen in a speech or in prayers for the Muslim during Aidilfitri or Aidiladha.
“The Muslims had never touched the Constitution,” he said.
He also said that either the reverend does not understand Article 153 or he had purposely questioned it to create tension, pointing out the law includes the Bumiputras besides the Malays, as well as those who are non-Muslim, including the Christians.
He said religious leaders should refrain from talking about sensitive issues.
“It is dangerous when a religious leader touch on an issue agreed upon when the country was formed. Everyone should hold on to the promise of the social contract.
“If one does not like the agreement made when the country was formed, then might as well do not be a citizen in this country. Find a better country than Malaysia,” he said.
Eu had also said the rights in any nation cannot be scrutinised in a vacuum.
The reverend said nation building must be collective and for it to work, it has to be inclusive of everybody’s rights, including the East and West Malaysians, Indians, Chinese, Orang Aslis, Malays, the Sikhs and indigenous people.
Eu pointed out that democracy used to mean elected representatives are there to serve the people.
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