MIRI, April 13: Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) has challenged Pakatan Harapan (PH) MPs to table a motion in the next parliamentary sitting in July to kick Sarawak out of the Federation of Malaysia.
That is if they are adamant that lawmakers from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) are to blame for the failure of the bill, to amend Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution, to secure two-thirds majority support on Tuesday (April 9).
“After failing to amend Article 1(2), there has been much blaming and arguments between PH MPs and Sarawak GPS. This (challenge) could possibly ease and solve the arguments.
“The upside of this would be that Sabah could get back their 40 per cent of revenue tax,” said S4S spokesperson Erick Chin in a press release yesterday.
With Sarawak out of the picture, Chin reckoned the politics of ‘Malaysia Baru’ would be more stable.
“If there is any bill or amendment that needs to be done in Parliament, Sarawak votes will not influence it then,” he said.
Quoting de facto Law Minister Liew Vui Keong, who lamented that the bill’s defeat had caused Sarawak and Sabah to missed the golden opportunity to restore equal partner status and that it might need 60 years to restore it, Chin stressed that it was time for Sarawakians to be united to recognise the people’s need first.
“Everybody blamed GPS and labelled them as traitors. PH Sabah and PH Sarawak should do what they think is the best … by letting Sarawak go,” he said.
During bloc voting in Parliament on April 9, 138 MPs supported the amendment, none rejected and 59 abstained. The bill needed the support of 148 MPs (two-thirds majority) to pass. — DayakDaily
