“All Malaysians should reject attempts by irresponsible elements to divide us by stigmatising Malaysians based on race or religion.

“The constitution unites us all by setting out our rights and obligations. Malaysians are stronger together by respecting our differences and supporting each other’s rights and obligations,” he said in a special message in conjunction with the Easter celebrations this weekend.

Lim, who is also Bagan MP, said this respect is the basis for peace and harmony in our society. The unity displayed is also the platform for economic prosperity for Malaysians and their children.

In this context, he said a suggestion by a PAS minister to secure a two-thirds parliamentary majority to gerrymander electoral constituencies that favours Malays and Muslims must be opposed.

“Gerrymandering constituencies with a religious or racial bias is unconstitutional. This is no different from racial or religious apartheid that would change Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak to a mutant variant,” he said.

Lim said he was concerned that these views were being shared by leaders in the current government.

Last month, plantation industries and commodities minister Khairuddin Aman Razali said the Islamist party is aiming to win a two-thirds majority in the next general election with the help of its allies in order to redraw election boundaries in a way that will benefit Muslims.

He said the three Malay parties – PAS, PPBM and Umno – must work together to achieve this goal.