PETALING JAYA: Former minister Noh Omar has called for the Federal Constitution to be amended so that the post of prime minister can only be held by a Malay-Muslim, saying the absence of such a requirement may have been overlooked.
Speaking at the Melayu 153 convention in Kuala Lumpur, which he chaired, Noh compared the Federal Constitution with Selangor’s state constitution that requires the menteri besar to be a Malay-Muslim.
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He urged Malays to unite politically to amend the constitution, framing the move as part of efforts to defend national sovereignty 68 years after independence.
The convention, named after Article 153 of the constitution, focused on safeguarding the special position of Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak.
Under current constitutional provisions, the prime minister is appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong based on majority support in the Dewan Rakyat, with no requirement on race or religion.
Veteran politician Rais Yatim also spoke at the event, calling for stronger efforts to educate Malaysians on Article 153, which he said is a key element of the nation’s founding agreements and has not been adequately defended.
