By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 25: Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap has urged to look beyond past parliamentary debates on the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA) and stressed that bigger, fundamental issues—like Sarawak’s constitutional rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63)—still matter.
This followed recent remarks by former Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Harun regarding PDA74, who has dismissed claims that the PDA74 conflicts with the MA63 or was passed without Sarawak’s consent, as reported by FMT.
Yap highlighted that although Sarawak Members of Parliament (MPs) debated and voted on the Bill in 1974, Malaysia operates under constitutional supremacy, not parliamentary supremacy.
“No Act of Parliament can override or diminish constitutional safeguards, including those entrenched under MA63, without the proper constitutional amendment procedures and the consent of Sarawak,” he explained.
He pointed out that MA63 is more than just a political arrangement—it is an international treaty and the foundation for Malaysia’s formation, securing Sarawak’s rights over land and natural resources.
Recent agreements recognising PETROS as Sarawak’s sole gas aggregator demonstrate that the federal government also acknowledges these rights in practice.
“While we value parliamentary records such as Hansard, the ultimate test remains the Constitution itself. In line with the spirit of the Rukun Negara, especially ‘Keluhuran Perlembagaan’, Sarawak’s rights under MA63 must be protected, respected, and upheld in both law and practice,” he concluded. — DayakDaily
