Article 1 (2) amendment to be tabled on April 8 and 9, says Chong

KUCHING: The amendment to Article 1 (2) of the Federal Constitution will be tabled at the current Parliament sitting on April 8 and 9.

Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Chong Chieng Jen said the Attorney General and the cabinet were still looking into the amendment before being tabled.

“At the moment the Parliament is still debating on the Royal address and towards the end of the Royal address, Parliament will table the amendment to Article 1 (2 ) of the Federal Constitution, which will be on April 8 and 9.

“In view of this, we have issued internal circular that all Pakatan Harapan (PH) members of Parliament to be present in Parliament on that particular date,” Chong, who is state PH chairman told reporters yesterday.

He had earlier officiated at the launching of ‘Illicit Beer awareness programme’, jointly organised by Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, Custom Department, Health Department and Confederation of Malaysian Brewers Berhad.

The ongoing Parliament sitting started March 11 for five weeks.

Minister of Law in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong had said that the cabinet had agreed to the amendment which he said was a major step towards the implementation of Malaysia Agreement 1963.

The amendment would restore the status of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners with Peninsular Malaysia. But it will require twothirds majority support of the 222 members of Parliament to be approved.

PH has 135 members of Parliament.