By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Oct 15: The federal government seeks to define Malaysia Day as Sept 16, 1963 in its proposed amendment to Article 160(2) of the Federal Constitution.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the Constitution in its current form does not properly define Malaysia Day as the old documents still refer to other dates.
However, he also explained that the Merdeka Day (Aug 31, 1957) will continue to be celebrated as the proposed amendment only seeks to define Malaysia Day in the Constitution.
“The whole idea is that once this amendment is approved, the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report will then be recognised by the Constitution. That is very important.
“At the moment, it (the recognition) is not there. The Federal Constitution now is based on the Federation of Malaya Agreement 1957,” he told reporters at a programme with Sarawak media personnel at Pullman Hotel in Kuching today.
Wan Junaidi said the Bill to amend the Constitution is scheduled for its first reading in Parliament on Oct 25 while the second reading will be on Oct 28, adding that all presentations are expected to be concluded the same day. —DayakDaily
