CM intimates in its current form amendment non-holistic, non-substantive and piecemeal
SARIKEI: No approval was given in respect of the amendment to Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman said what was approved was the intention to amend Article 1(2) but no approval was given to the amendment in its current form.
Abang Johari stressed that approval was impossible because the actual contents and wording of the amendment was never discussed.
“I have highlighted at the first Steering Committee meeting that our discussions and decisions should be within the parameters of the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963. Furthermore, any decision, particularly on an issue as important as this, would require me to obtain the mandate of the Consultative Committee established by the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly,” he told the press after the earth breaking ceremony for Batang Rajang Bridge here yesterday.
Abang Johari also said that his stand had always been consistent, which is, he is “very supportive” of any amendment to the Federal Constitution or any law that seeks to restore the rights of Sarawak.
“However, these amendments must be substantive in nature and not merely in form,” he stressed.
“When the proposal to amend Article 1(2) was raised by the Sabah Chief Minister (Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal) during the 1st Steering Committee Meeting on MA63, it was Sarawak’s stand to support this amendment in principle.
“When this proposal was subsequently brought to the 1st Technical Committee Meeting on 14th January 2019, the representatives from Sarawak was instructed by me to submit a written view.”
He said this view was that the state government supported the amendment to Article 1(2) provided it came with an amendment to Article 160(2) on the definition of the “Federation”.
He added that the reason for this is that the state government felt that an amendment to Article 1(2) alone did not fully address the aspirations of the people of Sarawak.
“By amending Article 160(2), a reference to the MA63 should be made in the Federal Constitution, whereas in its current form, it makes no reference to MA63,” he said.
He also revealed that the first Technical Committee Meeting had agreed that no piecemeal amendments would be made to the Federal Constitution.
“Indeed, it was agreed that a holistic amendment would be made at the completion of the process for the review of the implementation of MA63.
“The target is for these amendments to be tabled during the third Parliament sitting in October this year.
“This matter was not discussed further at the subsequent Steering Committee. However, we were then informed of the decision to amend the Article 1(2) at this coming Parliamentary sitting. We then channelled our views to the federal government,” he said.
He said the state government’s view was that a singular amendment to Article 1(2) would not achieve its purpose unless it was accompanied by other substantive amendments, amongst others, an amendment to Article 160(2).
“We were also of the view that this amendment would be more appropriate if tabled after important substantive decisions had been made on the issues deliberated by the MA63 Committees.
“I hope with this clarification; no devious allegations would be made against the state government as being not supportive of the amendment.
“To support an amendment which does not bring actual benefit to Sarawakians would be tantamount to committing a fraud on the people of Sarawak,” he said.
View the Chief Minister’s full press statement on Article 1(2) Amendment
