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<\/p>\nBy Yow Hong Chieh \u00a0August 31, 2010<\/p>\n
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Nurul Izzah wants clarification from Perkasa on where they are going with their agenda.<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 31 \u2014 Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar today invited Perkasa to a public debate on Malay rights, contending that the question of Malay special rights should be put to the King and the people of Malaysia.<\/span><\/p>\n Her invitation to the Malay rights group appeared to be an attempt to contain Datuk Ibrahim Ali\u2019s growing influence on policy by locating his discourse squarely within the democratic process.<\/p>\n Referencing Article 153 of the Federal Constitution – which Perkasa says grants \u201cMalays rights\u201d in perpetuity \u2014 Nurul pointed out that the article only specified that Malays be given a special position and should, in fact, to be interpreted in light of Articles 8(1) and 8(2) by the King or a body appointed by him.<\/p>\n Article 8(1) states: \u201cAll persons are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law\u201d; and Article 8(2): \u201cExcept as expressly authorised by this Constitution, there shall be no discrimination against citizens on the ground only of religion, race, descent or place of birth in any law relating to the acquisition, holding or disposition of property or the establishing or carrying on of any trade, business, profession, vocation or employment.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be ideal to have a mandated entity such as a Constitutional Court or at least a Constitutional Council appointed by the King to act as the final interpreter of any constitutional issues,\u201d Nurul said, adding that the judiciary, which already deals with constitutional matters, would also have a role to play.<\/p>\n Alternatively, she proposed a possible solution in the form of a legally binding referendum, while simultaneously challenging Perkasa to both a dialogue through open letters as well as a televised debate.<\/p>\n Nurul argued that \u201cMalay rights\u201d, as envisioned by Perkasa, were an ideological and philosophical construct that was not rooted in either the constitution or law.<\/p>\n