KUCHING, Dec 17: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) information chief Datuk Idris Buang welcomes the news that a bill to amend Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution will be re-tabled in Parliament next year.
He is waiting in anticipation to see if the Bill to be tabled would include the propositions made by the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) in April 2019.
“It is good to see if the proposed amendment would include the propositions by the Sarawak state government as contained in a motion passed by DUN,” he disclosed in a statement today.
Idris was responding to a social media post by de-facto Law Minister Datuk Liew Vui Keong titled “The return of Article 1(2) Federal Constitution”.
Liew was commenting on the meeting between Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal yesterday (Monday Dec 16).
He revealed that included in the agenda discussed were four issues related to Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) which need to be continuously debated.
“For information, out of the 21 issues, 17 have been agreed upon by the federal government, the Sabah government and the Sarawak government,” he said.
Liew who is Batu Sapi MP also announced that Article 1 (2) will be retabled in Parliament in the 2020 session scheduled to start March 9, 2020.
“Congratulations to Sabah and Sarawak. The people will be the champions to champion MA63,” Liew stated.
Meanwhile, Idris who is also Muara Tuang assemblyman disclosed that if the new Bill tabled by Liew contains all the proposals passed by Sarawak DUN, Gabungan Parti Sarawak MPs will give their support to Liew .
“There should be no qualms about having the new amendment passed in the coming parliamentary session next year,” Idris asserted.
Sarawak had in its April DUN session unanimously passed a motion to seek to secure a more comprehensive amendment to the Federal Constitution to:
(1) restore the status of Sarawak as partner equal to the Federation of Malaya when the MA63 was agreed and entered into;
(2) provide that the Federation ordinarily referred to is one that was established under MA63 and not under the Federation of Malaya Agreement, 1957; and
(3) safeguard the legislative and executive powers of Sarawak, the sources of revenues and special grants assigned to Sarawak and her financial autonomy.
The motion also included the amendments to the Federal Constitution to be sought upon conclusion of MA63 discussions with the federal government:
1. Amendment to Article 1(2) to be read as follows:
1(2) The States of the Federation, pursuant to Malaysia Agreement 1963, shall be –
(a) The States of Malaya, namely Johore, Kedah, Kelantan, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Perlis, Selangor, and Terengganu; and
(b) The Borneo States, namely Sabah and Sarawak.
Apart from the above, there are also other amendments involving a new Article 85A to be inserted; amendment to Article 95B, Article 160(2) and Article 161A(7). — DayakDaily
