Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reiterated the government’s commitment to uphold the provisions of the Federal Constitution, including Article 153, which addresses Bumiputera privileges. Anwar’s affirmation came in response to Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim’s call for the upcoming Bumiputera Economic Congress 2024 (KEB 2024) to assess the effectiveness of Bumiputera privileges.
“We will defend the Constitution’s provision, including Article 153,” Anwar stated briefly during the 15th International Conference on Islamic Economics and Finance (ICIEF) at Sasana Kijang.
Article 153 grants the Yang di-Pertuan Agong the authority to safeguard the special position of Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak, as well as the legitimate interests of other communities. This includes establishing quotas for civil service entry, public scholarships, and education.
Hassan Abdul Karim questioned whether the affirmative action policy has been misused by certain Bumiputera elites. He has previously called for Article 153 to be revised to ensure a more needs-based approach as early as November 2021.
The KEB 2024, scheduled from February 29 to March 2, will aim for inclusivity with participation from the Chinese and Indian communities to address poverty issues alongside discussions on the Bumiputera economy.
