The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism has called on Malaysians to uphold the federal constitution which embodies the social contract to bring about social justice and unity in the country.

Its president, Dr Thomas Philips, said the council supported the provisions in the federal constitution touching on the position of the Malay rulers, Islam being the religion of the Federation and the special position of the Malays and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak.

He said the provisions balanced those special positions with safeguards to protect the 'legitimate interests' of the other communities in Malaysia, including their right to profess and practise their religions freely.

In a statement today, Philips said the council fully supported the call by the rulers to uphold the constitution.

He said the legitimate interests of the non-Malays were provided for, under several sections of the constitution, including Articles 3, 8, 9, and 152.

They are:

  • Sub-section (9) of Article 153 says that business and trade cannot be solely reserved for Malays.
  • Article 3 (1) provides for the religion of the Federation to be Islam. It further provides “but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation”. Thus other communities too have legitimate interests to practise their religion freely.
  • Article 152 (1) provides for the national language to be the Malay language. But the Article goes on to protect the legitimate interests of the other communities, when it provides “no person shall be prohibited or prevented from using (otherwise than for official purposes), or from teaching or learning any other language.”
  • Article 8 (1) provides for equality before the law of all persons except as expressly authorised by the constitution. Thus any discrimination has to be specially authorised by the constitution.

- Bernama

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