SEREMBAN: MCA has set up a legal team to counter the plan of a newly-formed Malay rights group to challenge the citizenship status granted to some 1.75 million non-Muslim Malay­sians between 1957 and 1970.

A team of 24 lawyers is ready if Ba­­risan Bertindak Melayu Islam (Bertin­dak) takes the matter to court, said MCA Youth legal bureau head Ng Kian Nam.

“Since Bertindak is threatening to take the matter to court, we are ready to defend the 1.75 million Malaysians,” he said.

On Wednesday, Bertindak alleged that the granting of citizenships to the 1.75 million Malaysians may have violated provisions in the Federal Constitution.

Its spokesman Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz said Schedule 1 of the Federal Constitution required the ta­king of an oath of loyalty prior to citizenship being granted to any individual.

He alleged that this procedure was bypassed between 1957 and 1970, ma­­king 1.75 million people eligible for Malaysian citizenship.

Bertindak is made up of 22 organisa­tions, including Perkasa, the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia, Mua­­fakat, Yayasan GPMS and Pem­bela.

Following this, MCA vice-president Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun urged the police to probe the movement under the Sedition Act.

She said all Malaysians who held a blue MyKad are citizens and their rights and privileges are accorded and protected by the Federal Constitution.

Describing Bertindak’s move as “racist”, Ng said his team was already studying the clauses on citizenship as stated under the Federal Constitution.

“MCA was involved in the country’s fight for Independence. Our forefathers had discussed all matters on citizenship before giving the privilege to those concerned then. To dispute this now is utter disrespect,” he said.

Ng said instead of questioning the citizenship status of the 1.75 million Malaysians, Bertindak should look at Project IC carried out in Sabah in the 1990s when Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was prime minister.

“Project IC changed the demogra­phics of Sabah. In fact, a Royal Commission had to be set up to look into the scandal,” he said.

The Commission later concluded that the controversial project had “more likely than not” existed.

-The Star-