– by Nigel Edgar
KUCHING, Oct 8: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law) Datuk Liew Vui Keong will be meeting Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) MPs tonight to convince them to agree to amending Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution.
He said this would be the first step to ensure that the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) would be honoured by Putrajaya.
“Some of the amendments, including to some of the laws, require a two-third majority in Parliament. So this is where I have been tasked with Minister of Economic Affairs Dato Sri Mohamed Azmin Ali to work with opposition MPs to come up with some sort of agreement and consensus that we can agree on to work together and amend the constitution.
“Basically on MA63 and Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution. That is very important. We want to make it back to pre-1974, to make us equal partners,” Liew told a press conference after chairing a meeting with the Advocates Association of Sarawak at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar near Simpang Tiga here.
Article 1 is on the name, states and territories of the Federation.
He explained once the articles have been amended, everything else with regards to MA63 would fall into place. These include oil royalties, equal distribution, regional developments, he added.
Liew said as he would be meeting some GPS MPs over an official dinner reception tonight, it would not be difficult to convince them to agree on the amendments.
“Article 1(2) is very important, and I think I have a lot of support on that (convince GPS to agree on amendments).
“Some of them are also my friends. When it comes to MA63, I don’t think anyone (from Sarawak and Sabah) will say no,” he said. — DayakDaily
