'Make the first step the right one' - opposition MP blasts Article 1(2) bill
PARLIAMENT | Opposition lawmakers have claimed that Putrajaya's efforts to amend Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution should not be the first step that should be taken to restore the status of Sabah and Sarawak.
This was after Kelvin Yii (Pakatan Harapan-Bandar Kuching) claimed the constitutional amendment was a 'golden opportunity' for the lawmakers to draft history...
PARLIAMENT | Opposition lawmakers have claimed that Putrajaya's efforts to amend Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution should not be the first step that should be taken to restore the status of Sabah and Sarawak.
This was after Kelvin Yii (Pakatan Harapan-Bandar Kuching) claimed the constitutional amendment was a 'golden opportunity' for the lawmakers to draft history.
"This would be the first step (by us), the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step," said Yii when debating the policy stage of the Federal Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2019 in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He said the government, through the special cabinet committee on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), was still discussing matters on the status of the Borneo states.
Yii's debate did not sit well with Nancy Shukri (GPS-Batang Sadong), who said the government has to take the right steps from the beginning.
"If we have to begin the first step, it has to be the right step," she said.
Alexander Nanta Linggi (GPS-Kapit) then said the Article 1(2) amendment would be a 'misstep'.
Fadillah Yusof (GPS-Petra Jaya) said the government should include the wording of MA63 in the bill.
"We will only support this amendment (after the wording of MA63 is included) with the condition that the cabinet take an oath (to keep its promise) on what it would do, (namely) introduce more constitutional amendments," he said.
On April 4, opposition lawmakers from BN, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and Gabungan Bersatu Sabah (GBS) had demanded that the bill be withdrawn and referred to the Parliamentary Select Committee for review.
They wanted the government to include the findings of the special cabinet steering committee tasked with reviewing MA63, which had been given six months to convene on the matter.
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had chaired the committee’s first meeting on Dec 17, 2018.
Azalina Othman Said (BN-Pengerang) described the amendments as "cosmetic" and would not uplift the status of the Borneo states. It needed to be referred to a select committee in Parliament, she said.
"I support (the bill) with the condition that the bill is referred to parliamentary select committee."
Hanifah Aman (Independent-Kimanis) said despite Putrajaya stressing Sabah and Sarawak enjoyed equal status with the peninsula, this was not felt in the Borneo states.
"We in Sabah will be shorter (in status) when we stand together (with West Malaysians)," he said.
Ronald Kiandee (Harapan-Beluran) said Harapan had done what BN could not do by tabling the bill, adding Sabah and Sarawak had been waiting for decades to have their status restored after being deprived of it by the previous administration in 1976.
"There is no reason for Sabah and Sarawak to reject the bill," said Kiandee.
Concurring, Willie Mongin (Harapan-Puncak Borneo) said whoever rejected the bill was the traitor to the Borneo states.
"We have often heard that the lawmakers of Sabah and Sarawak want nothing more and nothing less. Now, we are giving (you) the exact.
"If you reject this (bill), then you are the traitor," said Mongin.
Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PAS-Pasir Mas) said the Islamic party had no problems supporting the bill but questioned if Putrajaya had sought consent from the Council of Malay Rulers.
"If we return to the MA63, will the head of religion still be the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong or it will return to the previous status," he asked.
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