MIRI – Sarawak PKR wants to see measures in place to ensure that the amendments to the federal constitution on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 yesterday will benefit ordinary Sarawakians, not corrupt politicians and their cronies.
State party information chief Abun Sui today said PKR is happy that the status of Sarawak and Sabah has been elevated to be on par with Malaya, or Peninsular Malaysia.
“The amendments passed yesterday in the Dewan Rakyat are good news. We in Sarawak PKR welcome the amendments.
“However, there must be measures in place to make sure that whatever benefits that may come to Sarawak in the near future following the elevation of status will benefit the ordinary people.
“We don’t want a situation whereby the elevation of status and rights leads to the elevation of power and wealth of powerful ruling politicians and their cronies,” he told reporters here.
Sui, a lawyer and a social activist, said PKR does not want the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak to enrich its parties and members using their newfound powers from the amendments.
Yesterday, the Dewan Rakyat successfully passed constitutional amendments giving greater recognition to MA63, after 200 MPs voted in favour of the amendments during the second reading with 20 absentees.
During the third reading, 199 MPs voted in favour with 21 absentees and none in objection.
The constitutional amendments are for the restoration of the original status of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners in the federation of Malaysia, defining the terms of the federation to include MA63.
Sabah and Sarawak had been downgraded to mere states in the constitutional amendment made in 1976, which many East Malaysian MPs claim was a violation of the federal constitution as stated in article 161E.
The amendments today will see changes to Article 1(2) of the federal constitution, listing Sabah and Sarawak as states of the Malaysian federation separate from peninsular states.
More importantly, the changes to the federal constitution would also see a redefinition of “federation of Malaysia” to give recognition to MA63. – The Vibes, December 15, 2021
