KUCHING: A parliamentary sitting is the best avenue for Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Deputy Minister Chong Chieng Jen to find out the truth about Sarawak being lowered from the status of region to one of the states in Malaysia in 1976.
In a press conference today at his party’s headquarters, Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Youth chief, Michael Tiang, recalled that Chong in his own press conference last Sunday blamed SUPP and PBB for causing Sarawak to lose its rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Tiang said in 1976, the Hansard recorded that the amendment to the MA63 to lower the status of Sarawak and Sabah was done on July 12 and 13.
“According to the Hansard, all MPs voted on the bill including the present Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir and DAP leader Lim Kit Siang.
“I am puzzled as to why Chong had not asked these two persons the real happenings during those two days instead of just accusing SUPP and PBB,” he said.
Tiang said it is time Chong stopped his allegation as SUPP MPs in 1976 had passed away, and as both the PM and Lim are still MPs, Chong should clarify the matter with them. At that time, the current SUPP president was in school and he, Tiang, was only three years old. Thus, it is time for Chong to stop pointing a accusing finger at them.
He said although he welcome the cabinet’s decision to table Article 46 of the MA63, Tiang urged that to be equal partners, Sarawak and Sabah must be given more seats that were also taken away from them.
“In 1963, there were 159 parliamentary seats. Sarawak had 24 seats (15%), Sabah had 16 (10%), and Singapore – 15 (9%). Now, there are 222 seats and Sarawak has 31 seats (14%) while Sabah has 25 (11%).
He reasoned that another important issue is to ensure that Sarawak and Sabah parties don’t spread to Malaya and vice-versa. Malayan parties should not contest in Sarawak and/or Sabah.
