In an online forum in conjunction with Merdeka Day titled “A Tribute to Tunku”, constitutional law professor Shad Saleem Faruqi said our country’s education system had polarised the people by race and religion.

“Since the 80s, the country’s curriculum at all levels has been infused with strong religious and ethnic contents and this has polarised the population.”

“If our kids don’t learn together, how do you expect them to live together?” he said.

He urged for an overhaul of the country’s education system, saying: “Our education system must be revamped to recognise a more pluralistic society in Malaysia.”

He said no significant changes had been made to the Constitution in regards to the inter-ethnic relations, despite the racial riots of 1969 and prolonged racial tensions until now.

He added that there was no constitutional literacy in the country, especially on the compromises by the various ethnic groups.

Further, he said, there has been silence on the part of the leadership, especially on the issues of racial and religious bigotry.

“Firm leadership is needed and we have not had that in the last decades.”

He noted that while the country strived for gender equality, it was not reflected in the electoral process.

“Article 8(2) says there shall be no gender discrimination, so technically women and men should be equal in the electoral process. How many women are there in the Dewan Rakyat? I don’t think there is gender equality in the Dewan Rakyat.