KUCHING, April 2: Inability to make amendment to the Federal Constitution due to lack of MPs support is merely an excuse by the PN government to lure votes for the elections which also shows their insincerity to restore the rights of Sarawak and Sabah.
Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii pointed out that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government can make the amendments to Article 1(2) and 160(2) to redefine Federation of Malaysia in line with Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) now by lifting the Emergency Order and allow the Parliament to sit without waiting for the next election.
“Saying that he (Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) can implement the amendments as proposed by Sarawak government when he wins big in the GE15 (15th General Election) clearly shows that it is a lure merely for election purposes rather than genuine intention to restore what is rightfully accorded to Sabah and Sarawak.
“Fact of the matter, he could have done it now, by lifting the Emergency, allowing Parliament to sit again and tabled the required amendments before the upcoming General Elections.
“When tabled, I am sure if it reflects the original spirit of MA63, Pakatan Harapan (PH) will be supportive of such amendments which will give the PN government the sufficient two-thirds majority to amend the Constitution,” he said in a statement today.
Dr Yii also expressed disappointment in Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) leaders who appeared to be celebrating Muhyiddin’s announcements when for years the Federal government had given empty promises in restoring the rights of Sarawak.
“Let me remind that almost one year ago on March 11, 2020, the Prime Minister said the exact same thing where he mentioned that MA63 and the constitutional amendments will be discussed immediately.
“However, one year has passed, and yet the Chief Minister (Datuk Patinggi) Abang Johari (Tun Openg) celebrated the exact statement even though nothing was done and when Minister of Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili mentioned that constitutional amendments will be done within six months of taking power,” he said.
Dr Yii claimed that it was the PH government’s intention to table the original amendments to Article 1(2) in accordance with MA63 which was the first step of other necessary amendments that will be further discussed under the Special MA63 Cabinet Committee.
“However it failed because it did not get the support from Umno (United Malays National Organisation), PAS (Malaysia Islamic Party) and even GPS,” he added.
He emphasised that it was for this reason that he has always demanded for a report card of the PN government to fully explain to the people the progress made in terms of restoring Sarawak’s rights under MA63 as well as to assess the development and socio-economic advancement in Sabah and Sarawak.
“I strongly believe that this is an issue of public interest as the people would want to monitor and know the report card of the ministry-in-charge on this long-standing issue that has deprived Sabah and Sarawak of what is rightfully ours.
“We do not want this special ministry to be formed purely as an attempt to shore up political support for this unstable PN government but not producing any tangible results for the people,” he said.
Dr Yii reiterated that if Muhyiddin is serious about restoring Sarawak’s rights, he does not have to set the condition that only when he wins big in the next election that he will be able to pursue the matter but table the amendments now. — DayakDaily
