KUCHING, April 5: The Pakatan Harapan (PH) government has not been honest in wanting to ratify the status of Sarawak and Sabah to be equal to that of Peninsular Malaysia.
Parti Rakyat Sarawak Youth chief Datuk Snowdan Lawan said the government did not even give the MPs ample time to thoroughly study the Bill before it was tabled for first reading in Parliament yesterday.
“Our (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) MPs need to see the clauses, the mechanisms and the contents of the amendment before debating,” he said when commenting on the Bill that seeks to amend Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution.
Snowdan, in a statement, stressed that it was not only the concept but the contents that Sarawak and Sabah stand to benefit from the amendment that was important.
“The way it is done now, it does not seem to address the core issues, i.e. the contents, soul and spirit of MA63.
“Even the way the amendment was narrated appeared mala fide (in bad faith).”
Snowdan remarked that by grouping Sarawak and Sabah in another line (line (b)) was disrespecting and depriving both Borneo states of their “legitimate country” status.
“In fact, they (Putrajaya) know what Sarawak wants, but the PH government just wants to manipulate by expecting us to make faults. It’s their plan for another broad daylight robbery.”
He reckoned that by referring this matter to the Select Committee as proposed by GPS MPs would be more practical and genuine.
“Thereon, Sarawak will refer to its own Consultative Committee on MA63 and probably to the state legislature for endorsement, if need be. That’s our way forward.” — DayakDaily
