KUALA LUMPUR – East Malaysia folk can finally heave a sigh of relief by the time the sun sets forever in 2021.
They have after all been among the most affected by Covid-19 – in Sarawak, where people have been faced by the huge infection toll, and in Sabah, with its slow vaccine roll-out.
So, by the time the year ends, greater rights can be expected to have been accorded to the two Bornean states – or at least significant progress taken on this front – and circumstances will ensure this comes to pass, according to political observers.
Speaking to The Vibes, they said there is no reason this will not materialise, citing pressure on and motivation for both the government and opposition.
For the government, it now has the commitment of lawmakers across the divide to see the changes through. It will feel motivated to reinstate Sabah and Sarawak rights as it can now claim credit for it.
For the opposition, it will want to be seen as supporting the people’s cause; hence, not backing bills to restore the status of East Malaysian states could cost them the polls.
Political parties will also be mindful not to further test the patience of Sabahans and Sarawakians, who have seen promises and efforts to grant them equal rights fall short time and again.
The closest they ever got to having their rights reinstated was in April 2019, when a bill by Pakatan Harapan (PH) to amend the constitution to restore the two states’ statuses as equal partners failed to obtain a two-thirds’ majority in Parliament by just 10 votes.
Then, technicality had been blamed for why members of the opposition, including from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), had abstained from voting, as they took issue with the phrasing of words in the bill.
Now part of the federal government, law minister and GPS member Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has made it his personal goal to at least table relevant bills in the lower house within 100 days of coming to power.
No reason bill won’t pass Parliament
National Professor Council senior fellow Prof Jeniri Amir said that, with the support and commitment given by PH under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government, there is no more justification to delay the passing of relevant bills.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had also said last month there should no longer be obstacles in recognising Sabah and Sarawak as “regions” in the Federation, following the historic MoU signing.
With this in mind, Jeniri said he does not foresee any more hiccups that have for long stunted attempts to restore the two states’ statuses.
This has taken too long, since the days of Barisan Nasional. I don’t see any reason for the bills not to go through this time around, and there can be no excuse.”
Jeniri said the government can also learn from the mistakes of 2019, when a lack of communication between the two benches in Parliament caused the amendment to the constitution to falter.
As for the opposition, the academician said it is paramount that it supports any bid to push for equal rights in East Malaysia, or risk being accused of being a stumbling block.
“If this happens, rest assured politicians will be exploiting this issue in the next election. In any case, I believe the opposition is sincere and committed. After all, it had also pushed for this issue when it was in federal power,” he said.
Amendments, no matter how small, a good start
Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s Assoc Prof Lee Kuok Tiung said that, while he does not believe the bills proposed for tabling this year will grant Sabah and Sarawak equal rights per se, any move to increase their recognition within the Federation will be welcomed.
I think the focus (of the tabled bills) will be on issues like health and education. And, if there is more to share with Sabah and Sarawak, I believe the people here will be happy. It will be a good start.”
Beyond just the tabling of bills, Lee said the upcoming Budget 2022 could also give some indication if the government is truly committed to treating Sabah and Sarawak as equal to the peninsula.
He said, as opposed to the past, the coming budget should see greater allocation for the two states.
From these, Lee said that the rakyat can decide if the federal government is genuinely concerned over the plight of the people in East Malaysia, and urged voters to be wiser in casting their ballots and not be swayed by offers and promises.
“Take PH for example. It promised a 20% oil and gas royalty for Sabah and Sarawak, but after securing Putrajaya, it failed to deliver on this,” he said.
Like Jeniri, Lee also highlighted the importance for PH to support any government bill that is of interest to Sabahans and Sarawakians, or this could backfire on it in the election, which is due in less than two years. – The Vibes, October 4, 2021
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