DAP's Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming has demanded that Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Shahidan Kassim resign from his ministerial post with immediate effect for suggesting "electoral apartheid".

Earlier, Shahidan had suggested that all Malaysians vote according to racial lines to preserve harmony in the country.

However, Ong reminded him that the system Shahidan was proposing had been practiced in South Africa during the Apartheid era.

He said that a "simple apology won't do" from the Arau MP and former Perlis menteri besar.

"His apology won't make up for him not knowing the constitution," Ong said, while pointing out that Shahidan's proposal was also unconstitutional.

Ong ( left ) said that the thirteenth schedule of the Federal Constitution stipulates that a MP can't be elected based on race.

 

"The original spirit of the Alliance is vote pulling across races. The minister can come and take classes from me if he wants, I too have a PhD, so we can compare notes with each other," Ong jibed.

 

He said that if Shahidan refused to resign voluntarily, he would ask for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to ask for Shahidan's resignation.

 

"Shahidan can't say he doesn't represent the government. He is a minister and a member of the government," he added.

 

However, in an immediate press conference, Shahidan defended his remarks and said that his statements were his own opinion and not the government's stand.

 

"It's an alternative suggestion by me," Shahidan said.

 

He said the current electoral system was "too open" and allowed the minorities to question the standing of Islam and the royalty in the country.

 

"The current system allows for racial problems. We want to live peacefully," he said.