Old divisive politics must stop, Syed Saddiq tells Dr M

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Dr M’s constitutional claim a travesty, say legal experts

PETALING JAYA: Legal experts say former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has misunderstood the Federal Constitution by claiming that promoting a multi-ethnic country goes against the constitution.

Constitutional lawyer Bastian Pius Vendargon said Mahathir’s claim was incorrect as Article 8 of the constitution states that all persons are equal before the law and entitled to equal protection.

He also said the constitution does not seek to impose “Malayness” on others or exclude people of different ethnic backgrounds, although it recognised Malay rights and Islam’s special position.

“Just because it doesn’t say anywhere in the Federal Constitution that Malaysia is a multi-ethnic society doesn’t mean it is not,” said Vendargon.

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