KUCHING: Rejection of the proposed amendment to Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution received a “yes” from those on the side of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and a “no” on the opposite side.
Political analyst Datuk Peter Minos said if it had been passed it would alter nothing in terms of making Sarawak and Sabah Sarawak equal to Malaya.
“It would in fact make Sarawak a mere state in Malaysia. It was, so to speak, a big trick and a trap of Pakatan Harapan federal government,” he said, adding that Sarawak has been unfairly and unjustly treated all these years.
He said since 1963 Sarawak has been far behind Malaya in all areas and fields.
“Our oil and gas resources, our most valuable resources have been sucked by Petronas for the development of Malaya and we get very little,” said Minos, a Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) member and chairman of Kota Samarahan Municipal Council.
He said if Pakatan Harapan (PH) government was sincere and fair, then amend and change all relevant parts of the federal constitution, rules/regulations and the policies, and make Sarawak, Sabah and Malaya equal as three territories/regions.
Meanwhile PKR Mas Gading branch chairman, Boniface Willy Tumek, said Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has made the MA63 (for equal status) and the consequential devolution of power their clarion call against the PH federal government.
He said thrown into the package are the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) or Territorial Waters, Oil and Gas royalties and Sarawak’s share of tax revenue.
Willy added that at the end of the day, the ultimate objective of all the above is the prosperity of Sarawak.
“Did the proposed amendment provide an avenue for all that? Of course, it did. Would the proposed amendment produce the same effect as the pre-1976 provision? Of course, it would. That is why GPS abstain instead of rejecting it outright. But why abstain?” Willy asked.
Willy claimed that GPS did not want to be seen as supporting PH as that would put them through the dryers in the next state election.
“I say the greater interests of Sarawakians were sacrificed on the altar of partisan politics. I think history will record it as ‘the efforts to restore the status and rights of Sarawak was effectively blocked by GPS MPs’.”
A lawyer and PKR Mas Gading branch deputy chairman, Francis Teron Kadap, who stood as PKR candidate in Opar during the 11th state election regarded the failed amendment bill as very unfortunate.
“The GPS rejected the amendment claiming it was half-hearted, and even contained tricks. To me the Bill may not contain the best of news but it surely presented the first step towards more amendments to other parts of the constitution, statutes and policies, not to mention any other laws that need to be repealed or declared null and void,” said Teron.
“I respect the right to agree or disagree but this is not the time and place to play around with the future of millions of Sarawakians.”
He said while GPS was less than sincere in their conduct, he agreed that Pakatan Harapan could have presented better options.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong had said he did not wish to be remembered for it and prayed that he would be forgotten as quickly as possible on the sorry episode.
He said that preparations were done in January and both Sabah and Sarawak governments were duly notified about the amendment.
Liew also said that he personally talked to both chief ministers last month on the matter and they agreed to it.
