MIRI: Majority of the people of Sarawak and the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) share the same disappointment and most are unhappy about the proposed Amendment Bill to Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution tabled by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong for the first reading on April 4.
The proposed amendment, in its current form, does not appear to put Sarawak and Sabah as equal partners with Malaya in the Malaysian Federation, stressed SUPP’s secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting, who is also Piasau assemblyman.
“The federal government appears to be most insincere in wanting to restore Sarawak and Sabah as equal partners by just merely dividing the current Article 1(2) into 2 sub-clauses, where the States of the Federation shall be: (a) Johore, Kedah, Kelantan, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Perlis, Selangor and Terengganu, as well as (b) Sarawak and Sabah.
“The proposed Amendment Bill has no meaning and it is just merely reconstructing the sentences and playing with words,” he said.
Ting had earlier pointed out in his statement back on March 10, 2019 that Sarawak and Sabah would not be equal partners with Peninsular by just amending Article 1(2) but without amending Article 160.
“No matter how they reconstruct the Article 1(2) sentences as long as the federal government maintains the definition of ‘the Federation’ as Federation established under the Federation of Malaya Agreement 1957 then we will continue to remain as merely one of the 13 states like the rest.
“If we take a look at the proposed Amendment Bill’s Explanatory Statement, it says there, ‘The amendment does not, in any way, alter the functions of the Federal and State Governments under the concept of federalism’. Immediately, we would ask based on which ‘concept of federalism?’ The one in 1957 or 1963?” he questioned.
He added that most people would not be wrong if they are to believe and think that PH government is still insisting on using the old structure of federalism of Malaya Agreement 1957, lumping Sarawak and Sabah as two of 13 states.
“43 years have passed by since the 1976 amendment where Sabah and Sarawak were downgraded to the 12th and 13th States of Malaysia. We cannot wait for another 43 years for another amendment to restore the rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963, Cobbold Commission, Inter-Governmental Commission Report and Malaysia Act 1963 (Chapter 35) ,” he pointed out.
Therefore, this amendment is so important to the people in Sabah and Sarawak and amendment of this nature will not easily come in the near future.
Ting also said that majority of the Sarawakians expect and want all 31 Sarawak MPs to scrutinise the proposed amendment so that all the rights and issues have been adequately covered.
He added that it should be crystal clear that this proposed amendment is premature and it is indeed a rushed job by the federal government without properly addressing the main issues, expectations and aspirations of the people of both Sabah and Sarawak.
Hitherto, the people feel that there have not been adequate and transparent negotiations or discussions between the federal and the state, especially the people in Sarawak who are going to be affected by this amendment to come out with a version where everyone can agree on.
“We would also like to point out that nothing was mentioned in the proposed Amendment Bill about returning our rights, our oil or increasing our financial grants. Nothing was mentioned on increasing the parliamentary seats for Sarawak and Sabah to one-third of the total 222 seats. If the federal government is serious about making us equal partners to Malaya they would have included these in the amendment as well.
An important matter like this proposed amendment should invite and allow the people to decide.
