Chong: GPS govt has failed Sarawak again in restoring equal partner status

KUCHING: DAP state chairman Chong Chieng Jen has blasted the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government for failing Sarawakians a second time on the proposed Amendment to the Federal Constitution.

He saw no reason for the government to postpone the Amendment Bill to restore Sarawak and Sabah’s equal partner status in Malaysia.

Chong was commenting on the October 12 briefing by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Parliament) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar on the proposed amendment. The minister had said all Members of Parliament, from both sides of the House, have been briefed on all the provisions of the proposed amendment. He also mentioned that all the three Attorney-Generals of the Federation, Sarawak and Sabah have agreed on the provisions.

“Then came the shocking news that the Bill which was scheduled to be tabled in Parliament on Oct 28 for second reading will be postponed to mid-December. This is the second time that GPS has failed Sarawakians,” said Chong in a statement yesterday.

The first time, he claimed, GPS failed Sarawakians on the matter was on April 10, 2019 when the then Pakatan Harapan (PH) Government tabled the Amendment Bill and the 18 MPs from GPS did not support the Bill, resulting in the Bill failing to obtain the 2/3 rd majority.

At the time 138 MPs voted in support of the bill, 10 short of the required 148. All 18 MPS from GPS abstained.

Chong said, now with 115 MPs in the government plus the 89 PH MPs who have already confirmed their support for the Amendment Bill as presented by Wan Junaidi, there is easily more than 2/3 rd of the MPs required to pass the Bill.

“Therefore, there is absolutely no reason for the postponement of the Bill to December, 2021. Furthermore, in December, we have proposed a second amendment of the Bill to devolve power in education and healthcare to the State by listing the matters in the concurrent jurisdiction of both Federal and State specific to Sabah and Sarawak,” he added.

He said the postponement of the bill by the current government shows that the GPS is not serious about the restoration of Sarawak’s status and the devolution of power in education and healthcare to the State.

“GPS’ refusal to support the Bill on April 10, 2019 has delayed the restoration of Sarawak’s equal partner statue and the devolution of power by at least two-and-a-half years. Now, with the postponement, more uncertainty and delay are caused,” said Chong who is Stampin MP.

“This just goes to show that the GPS is not serious about the Constitution Amendment and merely uses it as a political propaganda tool, for the convenience of their election campaign,” he charged.

Earlier yesterday, Wan Junaidi said the tabling of the bill to amend the Federal Constitution to be in line with the provisions of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) has been postponed despite it being approved in principle by the cabinet on Oct 20.

He explained that the postponement was due to several ministers wanting clarifications and the attorneygeneral has been invited to provide the clarification as a neutral party in the next meeting.

“If the prime minister can give permission for the first reading, we will do it. If not, the second reading will be postponed to mid-December,” the minister said when met during a visit to the Kampung Bintawa Hilir Mothers and Children Clinic (KKIK) yesterday.