KOTA KINABALU – Putrajaya should retable the bill to amend Article 1(2) of the federal constitution, which is part of the six key points of the government-opposition memorandum, said Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin.
The article touches on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) in the Transformation and Political Stability clause of the agreement.
He said in Parliament today that the bill to amend Article 1(2) of the federal constitution is “low-hanging fruit” work involved in the implementation of the MA63.
“The most fundamental agenda for strengthening and implementing MA63 is mentioned in the MoU is a constitutional amendment.
“The amendment to Article 1(2) of the Malaysian federal constitution is certainly ‘low-hanging fruit’ because both parties that signed the memorandum have no reason not to pass the amendment, and the bill is already drafted and ready for retabling in Parliament anytime,” he said today.
In his debate speech, Chan called on the government to ensure that backbenchers respect the agreement reached between the ruling and opposition parties in the MoU, including the constitutional amendments and the anti-hopping law.
“I have very high hopes for both the minister of law and the minister of Sabah and Sarawak affairs to ensure that the amendment to Article 1(2) of the federal constitution can be tabled as soon as possible, and it is best to table and pass the said bill during this parliamentary sitting itself,” he said.
The amendment of Article 1(2) aims to restore the status of Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya as equal partners in the Federation of Malaysia.
The bill was defeated during the Pakatan Harapan rule after it failed to obtain two-thirds majority in parliament on April 9. – The Vibes, September 22, 2021
