COMMENT | Recently, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad asserted that the Federal Constitution emphasises the “Malayness” of Malaysia and that Malaysia is a “Malay country”, besides claiming that promoting a multi-ethnic Malaysia is unconstitutional.

He also apparently accused the current federal administration led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of attempting to turn Malaysia into a secular and multi-ethnic country.

Mahathir further claimed that Pakatan Harapan’s concept of multiculturalism is geared towards erasing the social fabric of the Malay Peninsula by denying the place of the Malays as its original inhabitants.

This article aims to critically examine the assertions made by Dr Mahathir based on the historical development of our nation and our Federal Constitution that defines how our nation should be governed.

Regarding Mahathir’s assertion...