Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad speaks during a news conference following the general election in Petaling Jaya May 10, 2018. — Reuters pic

PETALING JAYA, May 10 — All rights and privileges accorded to the Malays as part of the Bumiputra community will be strenuously protected by Pakatan Harapan, said prime-minister-elect Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Dr Mahathir said this was agreed on by all four components and formally recorded in a signed declaration, adding that these include the constitutional articles on Islam and the national language, among others.

“Members of PH, including DAP, which were accused of being racist in the past, along with Amanah, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, and PKR, had signed a declaration that we support fully the constitution,” he said.

“It is very comprehensive and we have all signed this thing. I want to emphasise MCA and MIC did not sign,” said Dr Mahathir at a news conference at the Sheraton Petaling Jaya hotel, here.

The constitution includes articles specifying permissible affirmative action in favour of the indigenous Bumiputra communities that include the Malays, natives of Sabah and Sarawak as well as other ethnicities.

Rivals previously accused DAP, one of the four PH components, of harbouring anti-Islam and anti-Malay sentiments, which the pact repeatedly denied.

The allegation had been used by the defeated Barisan Nasional in its bid to defuse growing Malay resentment with the coalition, but without apparent success.