KUCHING: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Women chief Kho Teck Wan has thanked the Federal Cabinet for its decision to table the proposal to amend Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution to restore Sabah and Sarawak’s status as equal partners in Malaysia, at the upcoming parliamentary session.
In today’s press statement, Kho said, “Although Sarawak is an opposition state, she fully supports any move that will restore the state’s status.”
She believed that PH’s upsets at Cameron Highland and Semenyih had indirectly helped to expedite the amendment of Article 1(2).
“Three days after the big upset at Semenyih, PH government held the MA63 Steering Committee Meeting where Sarawak’s representatives led by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg were at Putrajaya to discuss about Sarawak’s right under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
“I think we should thank the voters in Cameron Highland and Semenyih as well as so many activists who “trolled” in social media for helping with Sarawak’s agenda,” said Kho.
She reminded all Malaysians that the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63)was an international treaty signed by the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Federation of Malaya, North Borneo (Sabah) and Sarawak.
She also stressed that any discrepancy in the federal constitution is a violation of the MA63, therefore the amendment is a correction, which in her opinion, shall not need the two-third majority in the lower house.
“That being said, since the Federal Cabinet has decided to table the paper to amend Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution in the coming parliamentary session, I would like to plead for the support of all Members of the Parliament irrespective of political divide to vote for the amendment,” said Kho.
She stressed that Sarawakians should not be contented with the tabling of paper to amend the Article 1(2), as the correction on paper means nothing if Sarawak’s rights enshrined in the MA63 are not restored.
Speaking as a member of Gabungan Party Sarawak (GPS), Kho reminded the PH federal government of its election promises which include the grand Sarawak 20 percent oil royalty, return of the 50 percent tax collected and return of education and medical autonomies to the state.
