KUCHING: The Senate Council’s Special Select Committee on Law Reform is working closely with the Sarawak government to modernise state legislation and ensure it aligns with the federal constitution.
During a recent meeting led by Senate President Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah, representatives from the Sarawak government, State Legislative Assembly (DUN), and the Advocates Association of Sarawak (AAS) met with Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg to discuss these efforts.
The committee’s mission is to review state and federal laws to ensure they comply with constitutional principles, particularly those related to the Federal, State, and Concurrent Lists, as well as Sarawak’s unique legal rights.
“The Committee’s goal is to critically examine laws and ensure that constitutional matters and the rule of law are upheld,” he said in a press conference after meeting with the Premier at Wisma Bapa today (Oct 25).
Meanwhile, Chair of the Senate Special Select Committee on Law Revision Senator Rita Sarimah Patrick Insol noted ongoing efforts to examine outdated federal legislation specifically applied to Sabah and Sarawak.
She said collaboration with Sarawak and Sabah governmental bodies, as well as legal institutions like the AAS and Sabah Law Association (SLA), is crucial in identifying legislation that may require updating.
“We seek strong cooperation between both governments and this Committee to identify outdated laws that need to be modernised,” she added.
“By establishing effective mechanisms for consultation, we are engaging with legal practitioners who understand which laws have become obsolete or require updates.”
Rigorous review of new legislation is necessary, especially for Sabah and Sarawak, which have jurisdiction over unique state and federal matters granting them specific autonomy.
“It is crucial to approach these reviews with due diligence to prevent constitutional violations, while respecting the provisions of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” she said.
The delegation included committee members Senator Datuk Noraini Idris, Senator Abun Sui Anyit, and Senator Noorita Sual.
