Support the Bill, urges Dr M
Sabah and S’wak MPs called to back Act to amend the Constitution
THE Prime Minister has called on lawmakers from Sabah and Sarawak for their backing on a Bill to amend the Federal Constitution after its tabling threw the Dewan into an uproar.
The uproar came from several Sabah and Sarawak lawmakers when the government introduced a Bill to amend Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution to honour the Malaysia Agreement that was done in 1963 (MA63).
“Well, if this is rejected by Sabah and Sarawak, as far as this government is concerned, we are for it, but we don’t have a two-thirds majority,” Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad told reporters at the Parliament lobby after the Bill was tabled.
The Prime Minister said the move by the Pakatan Harapan government was to recognise the agreement between “the Federation of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak”.
“But because the Federal Constitution did not make it clear, we have to change the Constitution.
“To do that, we have to get a twothirds majority (support in Parliament),” said Dr Mahathir.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong told reporters at the Parliament lobby that Sarawak and Sabah lawmakers would be held accountable if they scuttle the effort to amend the Constitution to honour MA63.
He rubbished claims by several lawmakers that they were not fully aware of the proposed amendments to Article 1(2).
He noted that Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and his Sarawakian counterpart, Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Abang Openg, were members of the steering committee set up last year to look into the matter.
“I organised a meeting at 1pm today (April 4) in Parliament to explain the Bill to them but none of them turned up,” he said.
Earlier at the Dewan, several Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) lawmakers stood up to object before the Bill could be read for the first reading by Liew.
Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili (PBS-Kota Marudu) stood up saying there should be a clear explanation on the proposed amendments before it is tabled.
“This is very important for us in Sabah and Sarawak and it is crucial to return our equal status. I urge that a select committee be formed and the matter to be discussed there first.
“It should also be discussed with Sabah and Sarawak. We feel that the minister is rushing in tabling the Bill,” he said.
Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (GPS-Santubong) said the Prime Minister was currently chairing a steering committee on MA63, which had yet to conclude its findings and recommendations.
He also said lawmakers were not given the 24-hour notice before a Bill was tabled for the first reading in the House.
Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (STARKeningau) said the Bill should be retracted as more discussion was needed and to be agreed upon before it was tabled.
He said the proposed amendments must also be brought to the state assemblies in Sabah and Sarawak.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob stood up and said the amendments proposed in the Bill were devoid of comprehensive details.
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the Bill should not be done in a piecemeal manner.
“This is not what the people in Sabah and Sarawak aspire or want,” he said.
“There must be more engagement on this matter and get feedback from stakeholders.”
Petrajaya GPS lawmaker Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said there was a need to form a select committee on the matter to look into the decision of the steering committee chaired by the Prime Minister.
However, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof said the first reading of the Bill would be continued as the 24-hour notice was given on Wednesday night.
He said lawmakers could write in a motion to form the select committee.
“All other matters raised can be also be brought up during the second reading of the Bill,” said Mohamad Ariff.
To this, most of GPS, Sabah opposition and Barisan Nasional lawmakers stood up demanding for the Bill to be retracted.
Some even chided Pakatan’s Sabah and Sarawak lawmakers to stand together with them, while some accused the Pakatan government of bulldozing through the Bill.
However, the tabling went ahead and the Bill is expected to be debated in this meeting, which ends April 11.