By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Feb 15: Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen views the attempt to change the designation of Chief Minister to Premier as “redundant, shiok sendiri (self-serving)” and has quoted Shakespeare by labeling it a move that equates to “much ado about nothing”.
In this morning’s debate session at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Building on the Constitution of the State of Sarawak (Amendment) Bill, 2022, Chong expressed objection to it based on the argument that the change is superficial and did not affect the real power of the Chief Minister once stepping outside Sarawak.
Chong started by arguing that when Sarawak joined to form Malaysia in 1963, the Sarawak Constitution only provides that the leader of Sarawak be called the Chief Minister and not “Premier”.
During the argument, he raised the issue of the equivalent of “Premier” in Bahasa Malaysia as there were two West Malaysian press that directly translated the term as “Perdana Menteri”, which is “Prime Minister” in English.
To Chong, who is also Stampin MP, confusion had arose without an official designation in Bahasa Malaysia for “Premier”.
Chong’s second point of contention against the change of the title was that the word “Premier” was not found in the Federal Constitution while there are provisions providing for the power of Chief Minister or Ketua Menteri.
“By unilaterally changing this word ‘Ketua Menteri’ or ‘Chief Minister’ to the word ‘Premier’, is it not a contradiction to the Federal Constitution? And more so, if the word ‘Perdana Menteri’ were to be used as a description (translation) of the word ‘Premier’ in Bahasa Malaysia, then it will be a direct contradiction to the Federal Constitution.
Quoting Federal Constitution Article 43(2), he reminded that the word “Perdana Menteri” is used specifically for the position of Prime Minister of Malaysia.
“For the change of the title of ‘Chief Minister’ to ‘Premier’, despite the fact the word ‘Premier’ is not found in the Federal Constitution, bearing in mind that if there is any contradiction between the Federal law and the State law, the Federal law will prevail and the State law will be null and void insofar as the contradiction between the Federal and State law,” said Chong.
Chong however, pointed out there is a saving grace for the change of title found in Article 160 of the Federal Constitution which states that “Chief Minister or Menteri Besar both means the ‘President’ by whatever style known of the executive council of the a State”.
“Whatever you call yourself, a ‘Chief Minister’, a ‘’president’ or a ‘Premier’, basically, they are the same thing under the Constitution (Article 160). There is no change in your position nor change in your power in the Federal Constitution. Basically, you are still regarded as ‘Chief Minister’ under the (Federal) Constitution.
“You can call it whatever name you want but you are still a ‘Chief Minister’ when you step out of Sarawak.
“This is what we call, ‘building your car in your home’ (Chinese idiom); or disregarding the outside environment in Chinese. It adds no additional weight or gives no added status to the position,” said Chong, the DAP Sarawak chief.
He described the Bill tabled by the Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah to change the designation as “redundant which serves no practical purposes”.
To him, Sarawak’s power is provided under Schedule 9. Unless Schedule 9 is amended, the change in the title of Chief Minister to Premier doesn’t affect and will not affect the power of the State.
Chong said DAP Sarawak will support the Bill if there is an amendment to Schedule 9 of the Federal Constitution which gives the provision to grant specific powers to the States of Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak or agreement obtained by Sarawak government from the Federal government to give additional powers following the change of position of Chief Minister to “Premier”.
“So in short, this attempt to change the title of Chief Minister to Premier is basically a ‘shiok sendiri’ exercise, which, to quote Shakespeare, ‘much ado about nothing’,” said Chong. — DayakDaily
