Amendment to Article 1(2): Important step for MA63
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah leaders concur with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie Apdal that the amendment to Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution for the restoration of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners of the Federation is important.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau said the decision by the Federal Cabinet to table the amendment to Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution is both courageous and spot on.
“This shows that the current government understands and respects the intention of our founding fathers when we formed this blessed nation of ours more than 55 years ago.
“It is a first and important step that will put right the course that our country will set its sail from now onwards in realising the dreams and hope that represent the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement,” he said.
Tangau added it would be indeed special if the amendment is passed unanimously with the support from all members of the House.
“Truly if that happens no one can deny the spirit of brotherhood of our forefathers still lives on in all of us.
“On my part I will campaign and I will start it now by saying let us pass this amendment together as a nation. We should also humbly pray for the betterment, and an equal status for the Federation of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak.
DAP Sabah chairman Stephen Wong said the amendment would have a profound impact on the future of the state.
Wong, who is Sabah Health and People’s Wellbeing Minister and Sandakan member of parliament, said he had attempted to submit a private bill to amend Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution to reinstate Sabah and Sarawak equal status with the Peninsula in September 2016.
However, his private bill motion was rejected by Parliament under the previous government.
Wong said he recalled trying to get the support from previous ruling MPs from Sabah and Sarawak, in the hope that they would join forces to push the amendment forward in Parliament. However, his effort was responded with scorn by members from Barisan Nasional.
Wong explained that the private bill he proposed was to seek the revision of the Federal Constitution by the Lower House, to restore and revive the equal partnership granted to Sabah and Sarawak back to the 1976 Federal Constitution. The bill proposes to change Sabah and Sarawak from one of the 13 states in the first article of the Constitution to one of three parties to the Federation.
The proposed amendment reads: “(a) The states of the Federation established under the Federation of Malaya Agreement 1957, namely, Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Pulau Pinang, Perak, Perlis, Selangor and Terengganu; (b) Sabah; (c) Sarawak.
Wong said the current constitutional clause that reduced the status of Sabah and Sarawak was amended in 1976.
At that time, he said, the members who opposed the amendment were four members of the Democratic Action Party, including the current MP for Puteri Iskandar, Lim Kit Siang.
Wong said that DAP had struggled for a fair and equal Malaysia for more than half a century. It is now time to rectify the mistake that was made 43 years ago by submitting the amendment to Parliament once again.
He urged all Sabah and Sarawak MPs to unite to support the constitutional amendment and take the first step to rebuild an equal Malaysia for all.
Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI) president Datuk Michael Lui also welcomed amendment to Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution.
He believed that all MPs from East Malaysia would give their full support in order to secure two-thirds majority to pass the amendment.
“Sabahans are looking forward to tangible actions taken by the Federal Government to restore the rights due to Sabah and Sarawak following amendment to the Federal Constitution.
“Apart from oil royalty, the government should impose sales tax on petroleum products for Sabah and Sarawak to increase revenue for the State.”
Lui believed that the Federal Government would also commence the devolution of power gradually to Sabah in health, education and immigration, among others.
“Once the amendment was passed in the Parliament, we hope that the government will implement measures that are aligned with the needs of Sabahans.
“We want to see more investments and economic activities to stimulate the State’s economy.”
He said amendment to the Federal Constitution would enable Sabahans to better safeguard their rights.
Lui also hoped to see Sabahans leading and running state government departments and agencies because they were more attuned to the needs of their own people.