By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Dec 16: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has agreed to Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s proposal to amend the Malaysian Unity Government’s agreement to allow Sarawak the use of both Bahasa Malaysia (BM) and English.
Abang Johari said the original agreement only included Article 152 of the Federal Constitution which stipulates BM as Malaysia’s official language, but was later amended to include also Article 161.
“There was this signing of MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) among the component parties forming the unity government (this afternoon) and one of the paragraphs in this MoU quoted Article 152 only.
“That is (about) the usage of BM as the official language. I amended that. I said not only Article 152, but you must also include Article 161 of the Federal Constitution that allows Sarawak the right to use both BM and English as its official language.
“And the prime minister agreed to that amendment. Of course, that is only one of the amendments (proposed). There are other amendments,” he said during the Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA) Gala Night 2022 held at a local hotel here tonight.
Under Section 2(b)(iv) of the Malaysian Unity Government agreement, it now reads: “Glorify Bahasa Melayu as the national language and official language, while guaranteeing the right of users, learn and be educated in other languages as stipulated in Article 152 (subject to Article 161) of the Federal Constitution; and encourage the development of Malaysia’s art and culture, based on superior elements from all the cultural heritage that exists in the country.”
In pointing this out, Abang Johari reiterated the importance to protect Sarawak’s rights in the Federation of Malaysia. — DayakDaily
