All MPs to have chance to sight contents of Bill, says Dr Yii
KUCHING: Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii says it is not unusual that Sarawak MPs have not been provided the draft of the amendment to Article 1( 2) of the Federal Constitution on restoring the equal status of Sarawak and Sabah.
According to him, the matter is ‘ procedural’ and that all MPs will have the opportunity to sight the contents of the Bill in due course.
“Actually, all MPs have yet to see it (draft). It is procedure that the Bill will only be put on our table during the first reading,” he said yesterday.
Dr Yii was responding to Batang Sadong MP Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri’s assertion that MPs from Sarawak and Sabah want to have a look at the draft of the proposed amendment to Article 1(2) before it is tabled in Parliament.
PBB information chief Dato Idris Buang also stated yesterday that Sarawak MPs ought to be given the draft, to give them ample time to study it prior to the tabling.
A few days ago, Dr Yii was reported to have said the details of the Bill will be revealed during the first reading, which is expected to take place tomorrow (April 4) “The Bill will then be available for all the MPs and public to see and also to scrutinise the necessary amendments that is proposed.
“After that, during the second reading which is scheduled to be on April 8, all MPs will then be able to debate on the Bill,” he said.
Dr Yii added that changes can actually be made to the Bill even before the final reading and final vote by all the MPs.
“Since this is a constitutional amendment, it will take two-thirds majority for it to be passed.
“I believe that the proposed amendment is pretty straightforward with the intention to return to wordings of the Federal Constitution in 1963 when the Federation of Malaysia was formed, of course now with the exclusion of Singapore,” he said.