By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, April 8: In a Facebook poll created by DayakDaily which has just ended, a high percentage of respondents are against the amendment to the Federal Constitution Article 1(2) tabled for first reading on April 4.
The poll asked asked “Are you for or against the proposed Bill to amend Federal Constitution Article 1(2) which was tabled for First Reading in Parliament on April 4”.
Less than one fifth (18 per cent) of the total 674 respondents said they were for it while 82 per cent said they were against it.
DayakDaily conducted the one-day poll on Facebook, starting at 7.26pm yesterday and ending at the same time today.
According to Facebook statistics, a total of 5,396 Facebook users were reached but only 674 voted. The post was shared 45 times.
The poll was run for only one day because there was general belief that the Bill would go for its second reading in Parliament today followed by a debate.
However, it did not happen. The Second Reading will only take place tomorrow where further amendments on the proposed Bill are expected.
The ruling coalition of Pakatan Harapan introduced the Bill on April 4.
The amendment to Federal Constitution Article 1(2) Bill proposed removing Sarawak and Sabah from the list of Malaysian states and placing them under a different clause.
The description attached stated that the Bill proposes to replace the old amendment with the new one where all states to return to its original status to the time when Malaysia was formed in 1963.
In the explanatory statement attached to the Bill, it was stated that “the amendment is made in line with the spirit of Malaysia Agreement concluded in 1963. It satisfies the aspiration and hope of the State Governments of Sabah and Sarawak, and all people of Sabah and Sarawak. This amendment does not in any way, alter the functions of the Federal and State Governments under the concept of federalism”. — DayakDaily
