KUCHING: The Federal government’s decision to establish a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) proves that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is right all along.
This was pointed out by Batang Sadong MP Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri in response to the recent statement by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong who declared that a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on the implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) would be established.
Nancy told New Sarawak Tribune today that the establishment of PSC was first proposed to the de facto Law Minister Datuk Liew by the GPS in the parliament. The proposal was mentioned during the debates in the parliament alongside two more options.
“We have suggested three options to the minister prior to the Second Reading of the amendment of the Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution.
“Our first proposal was to defer the amendment until the Cabinet Committee on Sarawak Rights chaired by Tun Mahathir was concluded.
“We suggested to defer and let the experts from the states study the Bill, and it would be more effective if the amendment is done in a package. For instance, to also look into Article 160(2) of the Federal Constitution on the definition of ‘Federation’.
“Second was for the Minister to accept our proposed amendment by inserting the words ‘Pursuant to MA63’.
“Finally, our third proposal was to refer the amendment to a Special Select Committee, so that the legal experts will have more time to deliberate on it,” she elaborated.
Nancy further stated that the GPS was very disappointed when the matter was politicised and that they were accused of being insincere.
“Now that the minister agreed to establish a PSC, which indicates that GPS MPs were right all along and we had no other agenda. If we had other agenda, we would not have disclosed our approaches with the minister,” she stressed.
“To me, it is a good opportunity for Sarawak to tighten the rights and powers as enshrined in the Federal Constitution with the condition that they are given more time to study the amendment and agree to it before tabling in parliament.
“In this regard, I thank the minister for agreeing to do as per our request and end the cyber argument which caused people to fight more out there, so much for a harmonious state like Sarawak and Sabah,” she added.
