GEORGE TOWN (Nov 30, 2008): The term 'ketuanan Melayu' (Malay supremacy) could be misinterpreted and the right terminology to be used should be from the Federal Constitution, Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said today.
Commenting on Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek's statement last Thursday that the ketuanan Melayu concept is no longer relevant, Koh said the appropriate words to use are "special position of the Malays and bumiputras" as written in the constitution.
"I am unsure of the effects of using a word that is not in the constitution as it can bring about a different meaning and it could be misinterpreted," he said.
He said the word 'ketuanan' may give rise to the interpretation that there's a 'tuan' (master) and a 'hamba' (slave).
"So, the proper terminology to be used should be from the constitution where it is stated that all the citizens' rights are protected," he said.
Koh said Article 153 of the Federal Constitution provided for the special position of the Malays and bumiputras and also the legitimate interests of all the other communities.
"The Federal Constitution should form the basis for all this, so there is no need to argue over it," he said at a press conference after delivering his opening address at the Gerakan Lifelong Members' annual general meeting"There is no point continuing to argue over the use of this terminology if we all refer to the constitution.
He said the interests and rights of all Malaysians must be prioritised because of the global economic crisis.
Earlier, in his speech, Koh said the poverty lines must be revised very six months because of the economic slowdown.
"We need to focus on the poverty-stricken as a lot of people are getting poorer. For example, the poverty line of two years ago may not be relevant now anymore," he said.
Koh said the way to help the poverty-stricken is to retrain them and look at more opportunities for them instead of only giving them money.
On Gerakan, Koh said the central committee held its second meeting on Saturday, during which Datuk Lim Kheng Guan and Dr Asharuddin Ahmad were sworn in as the two appointed central committee members, and Datuk Gooi Hoe Kin as the deputy dpeaker of the National Delegates Conference.
Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities and central committee member Kohilan Pillay was appointed a vice-president to fill the vacancy left by the late Datuk Dr S. Vijayaratnam.
The central bureaus were revamped to cover wider areas of responsibility. The central legal bureau has been redesignated the central bureau on human rights and law, and the publicity bureau is now known as the publicity, information and communications bureau.
The newly-created bureaus are the legislature liasion bureau, government administrative affairs bureau, environment, safety and quality of life bureau, and public health and social development bureau.
Former secretary-general Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye, who was appointed a vice-president, was reappointed to head the central training bureau, which has been renamed the central training and forums bureau.
On the Life Member Council, former party former president Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik was elected uncontested as the chairman to the party immovable property committee. The two other members elected to the committee are Chua Chong An and Lim Heng Tee.
Six life members elected to the central committee are Lum Weng Keong, Dr Chee See Choke, Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan, Dr Lim Thuang Seng, Yeoh Chip Tong and Khoo Soo Chai.
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