Constitutional amendments and other policy changes Ketuanan Melayu

parliament passed several amendments constitution after 13 may incident, limiting free speech , entrenching articles related bumiputra special rights.

parliament reconvened again in 1971. although nep passed without approval, parliament s consent required amend constitution. government-tabled constitution (amendment) act 1971, in conjunction amendments sedition act, limited freedom of speech on sensitive issues such national language, malay special rights, malay rulers, , provisions citizenship. these restrictions applied members of parliament, over-ruling previous parliamentary immunity. amendments clarified article 152 s meaning, , included natives of of states of sabah , sarawak under article 153, extending formerly malay-only rights bumiputra. in addition, yang di-pertuan agong (king) direct university or college implement proportion-based quota system favouring bumiputra. higher educational institutions enacted quota systems on orders of education ministry; later questioned move s constitutionality on grounds king himself had not issued directive.

to cap this, amendment of articles touching on sensitive issues mentioned, clause governing rule on amendments, forbidden without consent of conference of rulers. entrenching sensitive articles, heavily criticised opposition mps. claimed if parliament prevented discussing particular issue, parliamentary sovereignty undermined. unclear if ban speaking on sensitive issues applied ban itself. nevertheless, provisions passed. internal security act (isa), allows government detain deems threat national security indefinite period without judicial review, amended in 1971 stress preservation of intercommunal harmony .

many of these changes saw fierce opposition in parliament , abroad. when proposed changes first announced, british press charged preserve immutable feudal system dominating malay society giving archaic body of petty constitutional monarchs incredible blocking power . censorship of sensitive issues labelled paradoxical when contrasted tun abdul razak s speaking of full realization important matters must no longer swept under carpet... other critics argued article 153 nothing more paper rice bowl , , in case, did not include orang asli (native people) or aborigines within scope of privileges, rendering rationale suspect.

another important policy change came in field of education. in 1970, government made malay medium of instruction primary, secondary, , tertiary education, replacing english. although government funding chinese , tamil education streams continued, many non-malays considered new policy discriminatory far. government s rationale provide better educational opportunities malays, formerly had make transition malay-medium primary , secondary schools english-medium universities. argued uniting students under 1 language provide greater racial harmony, while indirectly underscoring malay nature of state .

the same year medium of instruction changed malay, national culture policy (ncp) announced. syed nasir ismail described government s policies aimed @ creating bumiputra muslim identity (identiti islam kebumiputraan) malaysians. in essence, ncp s goal assimilate non-indigenous peoples indigenous malaysian identity. despite stiff opposition chinese pressure groups, government refused withdraw ncp. foster national unity, rukunegara, or national ideology, introduced. although rukunegara contains no references ketuanan melayu or social contract, government commentary mentioned position of malays , other natives, legitimate interests of other communities, , conferment of citizenship key aspects of constitution while insisting: no citizen should question loyalty of citizen on ground belongs particular community. 1 political pundit described formal declaration of social contract or racial bargain .