KUCHING: There is no need for Sarawak to be begging as things are moving quite well for the state, said Datuk Abdul Rahman Karim Hamzah.
The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president was commenting on Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chief Chong Chieng Jen’s recent claim that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) had changed from a kingmaker during the formation of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) federal government early last year to a ‘kingbeggar’.
He pointed out that Chong was saying things to merely be in the limelight.
“I personally do not really know what Chong meant by ‘kingbeggar’ because we have not been begging. The way I see it, things are moving quite well in Sarawak.
“By coming up with something like that, it is probably just one of the ways for him to be in the limelight,” he said.
On the proposed constitutional amendment to Article 160 of the Federal Constitution mentioned by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg earlier on Wednesday (Mar 31), Abdul Karim said it was crucial to restore the status of the two Borneo states — Sabah and Sarawak.
“We are asking for it to be looked into because the article refers to the interpretation of federation in the federal constitution which refers to the federation of Malaya 1957.
“Malaysia was formed in 1963, that was why when the Pakatan Harapan (PH) was in government, it wanted to pass one bill for amendment of the article on the position of Sabah and Sarawak.
“At that time, Sabah supported the bill but Sarawak did not because we want another article to be looked into, Article 160 of the federal constitution,” he said.
Abdul Karim also said that the state government would be negotiating with the federal government on the matter.
