KUCHING, April 10: Discussions on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) should still continue between all stakeholders to restore the status and rights of Sarawak.
State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Deputy Speaker Datuk Gerawat Gala emphasised that the Bill to amend Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution, which failed to get sufficient support to pass in Parliament yesterday, was not a condition to restore Sarawak’s rights.
“The amendments were merely cosmetic as there were a lot more important issues and matters that must be sorted out and resolved,” he told reporters today.
He opined that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government had to bring the Bill back to the negotiating table.
“It has to come out with some other amendments that have been discussed in the paper, especially Article 160 (2) of the Federal Constitution because that is very fundamental.”
The definition of ‘the Federation’ in Article 160 (2), he elaborated, which still only recognised and referred to the Federation of Malaya Agreement, 1957, excluded Sabah and Sarawak.
“We (Sarawak government) want the amendment to be tabled after consultation with Sabah and Sarawak because it affects our position.”
On whether the federal government would table the Bill again, Gerawat said it was up to the government to decide and reiterated that it must, however, include all the amendments expected by Sarawak.
As to whether the aspirations and hopes of Sarawak and its people would be achieved under Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad leadership or the next prime minister, he said: “That I am not sure.” — DayakDaily
