KUCHING: Sarawak will pursue the amendment to Article 160(2) of the Federal Constitution on the interpretation of the phrase ‘Federation’ which should refer to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the law should be amended since the interpretation of the phrase ‘Federation’ refers to the federation established under the Federation of Malaya Agreement 1957.
“If that ‘Federation’ phrase is used, it will be centred on the Federation of Malaya Agreement 1957 whereas the contents of the Federal Constitution refer to what has been agreed upon in the MA63.
“So if the Article is amended, with the support of two-thirds majority, we will be able to adjust the law in accordance to the agreement that we have signed in 1963.
“With that, I am sure we can equitably share whatever we have among the three regions of Malaysia (Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak).
“This is the true definition of kemakmuran bersama (shared prosperity),” he said when speaking at a Wawasan Kemakmuran Bersama (WKB) Townhall session held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here yesterday.
Abang Johari also noted that the federal government had set up a special portfolio to ensure that the rights of Sabah and Sarawak could be preserved as enshrined in the MA63.
“With such platform, we would be able to address outstanding issues in terms of MA63.
“Sarawak has also proposed to the Minister in charge of Sabah and Sarawak Affairs in the committee to ensure that the treatment among the two regions be further enhanced,” he said.
He also assured Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who was present at the event, that Sarawak would stand behind the country’s leader in his mission to develop the nation.
