PM race requirement: Don’t complicate matters

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told the opposition front, Perikatan Nasional not to complicate matters over the race requirement of Malaysian prime minister.

Instead, he said that they should understand the Federal Constitution.

“Now the Constitution has rules, don’t complicate the situation.

“Likewise, the Opposition spoke about the redelineation. This matter does not even arise. They just want to play games to make Malay people angry.

“Understand the Constitution. The Constitution is for us to review only at the end of 2026. So, what’s with the fuss?” he told reporters after attending Friday prayers at the Surau Al-Kauthar here this afternoon.

He also said that there was no need to amend the Federal Constitution.

So far, there is no need, no serious application, no discussion.

“From our Independence until now, the candidates for prime minister have been Malay.

“Even after this, the candidates from the government and the Opposition will be Malay,” he added.

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang had triggered a national debate after expressing his hope to have a non – Malay prime minister of Malaysia.

He is currently being investigated by the police.

His speech however prompted Wan Ahmad Fayshal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang) to dare Anwar to amend the constitution so that only Malays can become prime minister.

His dare however did bode well with Sarawak politicians who took him to task for attempting to restrict the top position.

There are no race requirement for prime minister candidates in the constitution.

Such requirement are present in the state constitutions of states with sultans.