KUCHING, March 22: Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB) vows to monitor and hold Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg accountable to the promises he has made to ensure the return of Sarawak’s autonomous rights.
“Based on recent statements issued by the CM, it seems that he is rather confident that the Sarawak government shall regain its rights as spelled out in Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” said the party in a press statement today.
PBDSB said based on current circumstances, there is no room for further excuses since Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has agreed that whatever rights which belong to Sarawak shall be returned to Sarawak accordingly.
The party opined that since many amendments were made during the period of proclamation under Article 150, the Sarawak government and its assemblymen should review all the previous amended acts in the Federal Constitution which do not adhere to the State Constitution and/or is stipulated in MA63, by making the necessary amendments needed.
“As a local Sarawak political party, PBDSB does not oppose just for the sake of opposing, but only opposes what is not right, especially when it comes to Sarawakians’ rights as a whole, beside the Dayak indigenous communities’ rights.
“As such, PBDSB shall continue to monitor and voice out where necessary, on Sarawakians’ rights, especially when promises for such rights were made by the Chief Minister openly. PBDSB shall hold on to the promises which were made not only by the Chief Minister but the entire State Cabinet and assemblymen to ensure that Sarawak has its rights returned as promised.”
The party also noted that emergency proclamations in 1966, 1969 and 1977 had empowered the federal government to make laws without going through Parliament under Article 150 of the Federal Constitution.
The three proclamations were the 1966 Emergency Proclamation issued in Sarawak for the state to resolve its political disputes; the 1969 Emergency Proclamation issued following the May 13 racial riots; and the 1977 Emergency Proclamation issued in Kelantan on Nov 8, 1977 to resolve the state’s political disputes.
However, as these proclamations have since been lifted by the federal goverment on Nov 24, 2011, the Emergency Public Order and Prevention of Crime Ordinance 1969 (EO) is now void, and in accordance with Clause (7) under Article 150 of the Federal Constitution, the EO would lapse in six months after the date of the proclamations are lifted.
“After Prime Minister Najib had tabled the motion for these proclamations to be lifted, the government no longer has the power to make laws under Article 150 and Najib has also stated that the government is always ready to make changes in the law in accordance with current needs.
“PBDSB believes that Clause (7) under Article 150 which clearly states that at the expiration of a period of six months beginning with the date on which a Proclamation of Emergency ceases to be in force, any ordinance promulgated in pursuance of the Proclamation and, to the extent that it could not have been validly made but for this Article any law made while the Proclamation was in force, shall cease to have effect, except as to things done or omitted to be done before the expiration of that period.
“It clearly shows that what had been initiated by the late ex-Chief Minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem, is being carried out by the current Chief Minister Abang Johari; thus showing legitimacy of the facts pointed out that there is no obstacle in the way of Sarawak autonomous rights to be returned, as how it was initially stipulated legally in MA63,” the party said. — DayakDaily
