Wee: It was a rush job and merely a cosmetic change

PETALING JAYA: The Opposition rejected the proposed amendment to Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution as it was a rush job and merely a cosmetic change, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

“It was clear that the proposal was done hastily without taking into account comprehensive and detailed opinions.

“After the first reading, the MPs in the Opposition bloc, especially those from Sarawak and Sabah, felt disappointed and rejected the proposed amendment,” the MCA president said in a Facebook post yesterday.

Dr Wee said two main issues concerning the Bill that were brought up were the need for a parliamentary select committee (PSC) to be set up, and for Sabah and Sarawak state assemblies to be engaged over the matter.

“We don’t want what has been decided to lead to another U-turn in the next few months. The Pakatan Harapan government already has a terrible record of making U-turns,” he said, citing the examples of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and Rome Statute.

The Opposition bloc, he said, proposed a motion to form a PSC to collect feedback from the people and submit a report to Parliament before they could support the Bill in the Dewan Rakyat.

However, the motion was rejected by 136 votes to 60 votes.

The Ayer Hitam MP also said the government’s failure to secure a two-thirds majority vote was a political move by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“Dr Mahathir wants to send out a message to Pakatan leaders that his actions in taking in MPs, who want to join the ruling party, is the right move and should be continued.

“Do Pakatan leaders agree with the message of this expert political strategist?” he said.

Dr Wee said Dr Mahathir and Pakatan leaders had succeeded in giving the impression to the people in Sabah and Sarawak that they had fulfilled their manifesto promises.

He added that it was incorrect to say the Opposition did not uphold the aspirations and rights of Sabahans and Sarawakians.

“The Opposition, who are made up of leaders from the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak, are always committed to fighting for the aspirations of Sabahans and Sarawakians.

“We only want this to be looked into carefully and diligently, not just for cosmetics,” he said.