Malaysian prime minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, warned politicians and political parties that to exclude any race from a government is a sheer act of arrogance which strikes at the core of the nation’s constitutional democracy.

He stated that Malaysia as a plural society demands that government composition reflect the country’s diversity and that no leadership, however dominant, has the right to shut out diverse communities or rivals from holding power.

In view of the current trend by politicians who deploy divisive rhetoric ahead of coming elections, Anwar stated that Malaysia’s system of governance is anchored in constitutional principles that overrides changes in leadership.

Anwar stated that while leadership may change, the fundamental framework set out in the Federal Constitution acts as the guiding principle to ensure the government reflects the country’s multi-racial composition.

He stated that when the issue of who should be in government is considered, the representation must reflect people of all races and religions in the country in order to ensure inclusivity and fairness and justice.

Anwar also rejected outright what he perceived as ‘identity-based hostility’ as being highly incompatible with modern governance, stating that citizens cannot choose their own race and there must be no political marginalisation on that basis.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE