KOTA KINABALU – Warisan is disappointed over the federal government’s decision to defer the tabling of constitutional amendments concerning the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
The deferment takes place until the Attorney-General’s Chambers provides clarifications on certain issues.
Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said that putting the bill on hold was a big let-down, especially for the people of Sabah and Sarawak.
He said East Malaysians have been anticipating the second tabling of the bill after it failed to get a two-thirds majority support in Parliament in 2019.
The government was expected to table the bill to amend Article 1(2) and Article 160(2) by end of this month, but according to Shafie, the bill was not included in the List of Order Papers for the Second Meeting of the Fourth Session of the 14th Parliament (2021) from October 25 till December 16, 2021.
Shafie said that the matter had already been studied meticulously and despite having been discussed during the premiership of the last four prime ministers of Malaysia, it still remains unresolved.
The party nevertheless commended Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar for his commitment and effort in pursuing the issue.
“He worked hard to make sure everything was in order for tabling in Parliament. Unfortunately, the cabinet has suddenly decided to seek more explanation from the attorney-general.
“It is important to support MA63 because it is well within the interests of the people and country,” said Shafie. – The Vibes, October 22, 2021