In a Facebook post, he said Article 153 of the constitution must be viewed in the context of the situation in 1957, when the country was negotiating its independence.
At the time, he said, Malays only made up 47% of the population due to the British citizenship policy. The rest consisted of the Chinese and Indians who had come during the British rule.
Saying that Article 153 had been deemed “a necessary evil” for the attainment of an equitable social and economic condition, Azhar, popularly known as Art Harun, added that it had been initially proposed for 15 years only.
However, due to objections, particularly from Umno, he said, the 15-year limit was removed from the final draft of the constitution.
“That was in 1957,” he said. “In the year 2017, this must be revisited.”
Azhar was speaking in support of Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who said yesterday that the quota system was insulting to the Malays.
At a dialogue with Malaysian Indian youths on the National Transformation Plan 2050 last night, Khairy said he had often encouraged Malay youths to aim for universities which did not have a quota system.
“You don’t want people to say that you are where you are only because there is a quota system,” he had said.
Azhar agreed, saying that Article 153 was not “cast in stone” but rather “a dynamic provision”.
Under the article, he said, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was entrusted with safeguarding the “special position” of Malays and Bumiputeras “as he may deem reasonable”.
“What may be reasonable in 1957 may not be reasonable in 2017.
“It is my opinion that we should revisit this issue and re-determine whether what is being done now and before is reasonable or not. And also to determine what is reasonable and what is not reasonable.”