Chong questions dithering by GPS over proposed amendment of constitution

KUCHING: State Pakatan Harapan ( PH) chairman Chong Chieng Jen questions the silence of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) on their stand on to the proposed amendment to Article 1( 2) of the Federal Constitution which is expected to be tabled in parliament sitting within a week.

He described their hesitation to show their commitment in supporting the amendment Bill as an “utter disservice to Sarawak.”

“I wish to remind them they have betrayed the trust of Sarawakians once when they supported the 1976 amendment to the Federal Constitution. This is the time for you to redeem yourself and do justice to Sarawakians who have elected you as the government of Sarawak throughout these years,” he said at a press conference held at DAP Sarawak headquarters here yesterday.

The second reading of the amendment Bill is expected to be held either on April 8 or 9 and requires a two-third majority or 148 votes, out of the 222 MPs in the Dewan Rakyat ( Lower House) to pass.

The DAP Sarawak chairman said by right, the members of parliament from GPS component parties should be wholeheartedly supporting the amendment Bill, rather than playing politics and giving excuses for not supporting the Bill.

“Once the status of Sarawak is put in the right place to be one of the three territories in Malaysia, other autonomies and rights that come in will fall into place. You just need a starting point.

“Don’t give any excuses saying that we need to look at the wordings and see whether there are actual benefits or not.”

He pointed out that restoring Sarawak’s rightful position in Malaysia is one of the fundamental changes the Pakatan Harapan ( PH) government has brought forward and something which the Barisan Nasional ( BN) government has failed to do.

“We are now trying to repair the damage done by BN and yet these former BN members, now GPS, are trying to use their position and numbers in Parliament to hold the PH government to ransom. This is totally unacceptable,” he expressed.

Also present at the press conference were former Bintulu MP Ting Ling Kiew and Chong’s special assistant Sim Kiat Leng.