Speaking to FMT, Azmi said to blame the Constitution for racism was “overly simplistic” and that instead, racism should be blamed on how politics in the country was being conducted.
“I find it very disingenuous for MCA to blame the Constitution which the party had a hand in drafting rather than blame the government that it has been a part of for so long,” he said.
“Even the way the parties are set up in the country, where you have MCA for the Chinese, MIC for the Indians and Umno for the Malays, contributes towards racism.”
Azmi pointed out that although Article 153 of the Federal Constitution allows for affirmative action, it was only meant as permission given to Bumiputeras for special treatment as they were “desperately poor” and feeling ostracised at the time, but that the special treatment should not be treated as a right.
He explained that the Federal Constitution was based on equality as stated in Article 8 where it says that all must be treated equally unless the Constitution allocates exceptions as in Article 153.
“Over the years, however, the country has started believing that the Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak have the right to special treatment, but it is not a right but merely permission. It is Umno members who say that it is a right.”
He added that Article 153 only stated a few areas that could be used to implement affirmative action and that the government had gone beyond the areas stated when allocating special provisions for the Bumiputeras.
“It is not the Constitution that gives discounts to Malays to purchase luxury houses, for example,” he quipped.