By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Aug 12: The current instability in the federal government could be a major hindrance to the progress of reinstating Sarawak’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) which have eroded especially in pushing for comprehensive amendments to the Federal Constitution necessary to properly recognise the MA63.
Even though negotiations and discussions involving the federal government, Sarawak government and Sabah government have progressed positively, de facto Law Minister Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali however doubts that further steps could be taken anytime soon given the political crisis currently taking place in Peninsular Malaysia.
“We have submitted the proposals (recommended amendments as well as recommendations on other issues) to the federal government and Attorney-General Chambers in Putrajaya.
“But (with the ongoing crisis over the struggle for power), it is rather impossible to get these amendments done for now as a two-thirds (majority) vote in Parliament is needed to amend the Federal Constitution.
“The parties involved could only work on this if the government is stable,” she stressed in her talk on “Returning Sarawak rights, strengthening Malaysia” during a webinar organised by Yayasan Perpaduan Sarawak (YPS) today.
On the comprehensive amendments to the Federal Constitution, Sarawak has amongst other things proposed for the amendments on Article 1(2) to add “pursuant to MA63” in Clause 2; on Article 160(2) on the definition of the federation to mean federation established under MA63 and not Federation of Malaya 1957; inserting definition of Malaysia Day; on Article 85A as a new provision; on Article 95B; and on Article 161A(7) to include the Ibans, Bidayuh and Lun Bawang as natives of Sarawak.
Other amendments include devolution of power in various areas including tourism and environment from the Federal List to the Concurrent List so that Sarawak has more autonomy to decide on these matters.
Acknowledging that this has been and will continue to be an uphill task, Sharifah Hasidah emphasised that Sarawak will continue to pursue the MA63 issues relentlessly and to keep pushing for the proposed amendments to reflect the reality of MA63 within the Federal Constitution.
She pointed out that it is vital for MA63 to be recognised and supported by the Federal Constitution as it is the backbone and supreme law of Malaysia.
“It is not going to be easy but it is not impossible so long as we have the tenacity and willpower to move forward to get this sooner or later.”
The Samariang assemblywoman thus hopes to see stability in the government as the present good relationship has enabled the States and federal government to find solutions and conclusions to the issues pursued.
“We need to have discussions in a rational and not emotional or politically charged environment. We need to have measured and controlled talks to push things through.
“For Sarawak, this is all that we ask for, no more nor less and we will exercise and fight within the bounds of the legitimate laws of Sarawak. We will not go beyond what is legal. We will do it in a responsible and measured approach with achievable targets and in the spirit of Malaysia.”
The Perikatan Nasional (PN) federal government had in December 2020 established a Special Council chaired by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin with three working committees formed to monitor the implementation of MA63.
The committees comprised the Rakan Sekutu (allies) which focuses on legal matters especially amendments to the Federal Constitution; Security of State to discuss citizenship, statelessness and border security issues; and Social Economics that aims to find long-term solutions on poverty, health and education issues.
Previously under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, the first attempt at amending the Constitution which sought to reinstate the status of Sarawak and Sabah as equal partners with Peninsular Malaysia as enshrined in the MA63 was shot down at the policy stage after the federal government failed to secure the requisite two-third parliamentary majority.
The webinar was moderated by Angkatan Zaman Mansang (Azam) Sarawak honorary secretary Ariff Irwani Azahari.
Other notable speakers featured including deputy dean and senior lecturer from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Dr Arnold Puyok, Associate Professor Dr Rahman Tang Abdullah from the History Programme Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities of Universiti Malaysia Sabah and law student and Undi 18 public relations officer Adillah Zaki. — DayakDaily
