PM: TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY TO RESTORE STATE RIGHTS
Opposition support needed to change constitution, says Dr Mahathir
ATWO-THIRDS majority in Parliament is needed to allow changes to the Federal Constitution to ensure the restoration of Sabah and Sarawak rights as outlined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said this would require support from the opposition, which could be seen only when the time came in Parliament.
“So we have to figure out how we can achieve the two-thirds majority. In the meantime, we will study what has to be repealed and substituted with new provisions in the constitution.
“There will also be some laws that we need to look into,” he said after a breakfast meeting with Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and state leaders.
On the imeframe for the review, he said: “It depends on the people working on it. It depends on the push by Sabah and Sarawak.”
He said the discussion on the restoration of Sarawak and Sabah’s status as equal partners could start immediately, but approval would take time.
On whether Sabah and Sarawak rights would be restored if the opposition also pushed for it, he said that was not always the case.
“They (opposition) say something, but when they are there (in Parliament), they do not support it, like the law on fake news recently. We thought they would support us, but we went to the Senate where we don’t have the majority, so we lost.”
When asked about other rights the Federal Government was looking at returning, he said it was considering a few things.
“There are certain things that are decided in Kuala Lumpur by people who are not familiar with the conditions in Sabah and Sarawak. We have to address that.
“Either we have more Sabahans and Sarawakians in the peninsula working in the government, or we would need to have some of the decision-making transferred to Sabah and Sarawak.”
On whether it would involve education and health in Sabah, in reference to the two state ministries formed after the 14th General Election, Dr Mahathir said this was being looked into.