KUCHING : Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) welcomes the recent statement by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law), Datuk Liew Vui Keong, that the Federal government would seek to amend Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution to restore both the positions of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners in Malaysia.
SUPP Central Youth Chief, Michael Tiang said this in a press statement yesterday.
“The minister’s stance has shown his concern for Sabah and Sarawak’s rights and position under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and apparently, as a Cabinet Minister, Liew is willing to play his role in
at the Federal level to seek the restoration of both Sabah and Sarawak’s positions as soon as possible.
“Although the notion of restoring Sabah and Sarawak’s positions as equal partners in the Federation of Malaysia might be the minister’s personal suggestion at this stage, SUPP demands the PH Cabinet immediately agrees with him unanimously and SUPP would give its full acknowledgement and support to the minister’s notion. It is always SUPP’s stance that the party is supportive of any Federal policies and
actions that are meant for the benefits of Sarawak,” added Tiang.
However, while Liew had displayed his political courage in speaking up for Sabah and Sarawak, Tiang said the stance by the 12 Sarawak Pakatan Harapan Members of Parliament, who included one full Minister and one Deputy Minister was “a letdown to all Sarawakians.”
According to Tiang, Sarawak representatives in PH had not only failed to speak up for Sarawakians in the Cabinet, “they even tried so hard to persuade Sarawakians to accept the offered 20% oil profits,
instead of the promised 20% oil royalty.”
He added: “I believe Liew, a Sabah Minister, has given fresh hopes to both the Sabah and Sarawak people.”
According to Tiang, SUPP suggests the following steps to ensure the status of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners:
1) Increase Sarawak and Sabah’s parliamentary representatives, at least according to the ratio agreed in 1963 as well as ensure Sabah and Sarawak have 1/3 parliamentary representatives in the
Parliament; and
(2) Review all Federal laws and policies which are contravening MA63, particularly Territorial Sea Act 2012 and Petroleum Development Act 1974 so as not to be enforceable in Sarawak as the Acts were
unilaterally and unconstitutionally passed to encroach onto the autonomy of Sarawak without its consent.
