By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, Sept 1: Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party (Aspirasi) president Lina Soo is urging newly minted Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar to repeal the Constitutional Act 354 Section 2, which will revert the Borneo States of Sarawak and Sabah to its original position as sealed in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“In reference to Sarawak and Sabah rights under MA63, Junaidi must seek the return of oil and gas, and our territorial sea over the Continental Shelf back to Sarawak and Sabah.
“This can be done by just inserting an additional clause: The Petroleum Development Act (1974) shall not apply to the Borneo States of Sarawak and Sabah; and The Territorial Sea Act shall not apply to the coastal Borneo States of Sarawak and Sabah,” said Soo in a press statement today.
Additionally, Soo hoped that Wan Junaidi would establish an anti-hopping law.
She noted that freedom of association is enshrined under the Federal Constitution, meaning elected lawmakers are free to join any political party they wish at any juncture.
However, Soo said there is a constitutional and legislative mechanism practised by the UK and several Commonwealth countries such as the ‘Recall of MPs Act’ or similar recall procedures which can trigger a by-election when an MP is found guilty of wrongdoing that fulfils specific criteria.
One of the criteria set for a recall election she noted would be when an MP who has won a parliamentary seat on a political party ticket, switches political affiliation by abandoning the party the constituents supported, and the MP then must give up his seat to make way for a by-election.
“It is no secret that MPs hopping from party to party for personal benefit had resulted in political instability and three Prime Ministers in three years within just one general election.
“This had caused investors to flee and made Malaysia a laughing stock.
“Voters have lost public confidence in politics and elected politicians. Therefore, the power of recall which deters MPs from taking decisions which go against the wishes of the constituents will restore confidence in the democratic process of universal suffrage,” Soo added. — DayakDaily
