Karpal: I have never questioned Malay rights

Written by Sharon Tan, The Edge

DAP chairman Karpal Singh clarified on Wednesday, April 7 that, contrary to reports, he has never questioned the special position of the Malays and bumiputera.

“I did not, at any time, question the special position of the Malays and bumiputera. These are in fact entrenched in Article 153 of the Federal Constitution,” he said in a press conference at the parliament lobby.

“All I ask for is this; in the light of the 1Malaysia concept, is the government prepared to give us a time frame so that the bumiputera, the Malays can be put in a position to compete with the others? Does that amount to sedition? It is difficult for anyone to say anything,” said the Bukit Gelugor MP.

He said that a spate of police reports had been made against those who spoke on this issue, and it was time for the police to charge people for lodging false reports.

He also suggested that the authorities should consider action against a Malay tabloid for publishing a report portraying what he had said to be seditious when it was not.

The Federation of Peninsular Malay Students (GPMS) lodged a report against Karpal on Monday based on the report in the tabloid.

GPMS said Karpal’s remark could cause chaos and disunity and wanted the police to investigate him under the Sedition Act.

Bernama reported that Kuala Lumpur Perkasa chief Arman Azha Abu Hanifah lodged a similar report at the Sentul district police headquarters on April 7.