All persons are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law.
Except as expressly authorized by this Constitution, there shall be no discrimination against citizens on the ground only of religion, race, descent, place of birth or gender in any law or in the appointment to any office or employment under a public authority or in the administration of any law relating to the acquisition, holding or disposition of property or the establishing or carrying on of any trade, business, profession, vocation or employment.
There shall be no discrimination in favour of any person on the ground that he is a subject of the Ruler of any State.
No public authority shall discriminate against any person on the ground that he is resident or carrying on business in any part of the Federation outside the jurisdiction of the authority.
This Article does not invalidate or prohibit—
any provision regulating personal law;
any provision or practice restricting office or employment 23
Art. 8
See Art. 12 & 161a(5).
Clause (2)
The words “descent, place of birth or gender” substituted for the words “descent or place of birth” by Act A1130, section 3, in force from 28-09-2001.
Federal Constitution connected with the affairs of any religion, or of an institution managed by a group professing any religion, to persons professing that religion;
any provision for the protection, well-being or advancement of the aboriginal peoples of the Malay Peninsula (including the reservation of land) or the reservation to aborigines of a reasonable proportion of suitable positions in the public service;
any provision prescribing residence in a State or part of a State as a qualification for election or appointment to any authority having jurisdiction only in that State or part, or for voting in such an election;
any provision of a Constitution of a State, being or corresponding to a provision in force immediately before
Merdeka Day;
any provision restricting enlistment in the Malay Regiment to Malays.