KUCHING: Pakatan Harapan (PH) has challenged Barisan Nasional (BN) Sarawak to table an amendment to the Federal Constitution to restore Sarawak’s status as one of the three territories in Malaysia during the next parliamentary sitting.
PH state chairman Chong Chieng Jen claimed that all opposition coalition members of parliament would support the amendment, which would give it more than two thirds majority to be pushed through and passed.
He said despite the criticism of BN leaders against PH’s New Deal for Sarawak unveiled last Sunday, it is nevertheless open for the present BN government to copy and implement all or any of the five thrusts including restoring Sarawak’s status as one of the territories in Malaysia.
“BN can at any time table an amendment in Parliament for an amendment of the Constitution. The next Parliament sitting shall commence from Oct 23 until Nov 30.
“We hereby challenge the BN to table in this parliamentary sitting, an amendment to the Federal Constitution to restore Sarawak’s status from one of the 13 states to one of the three territories of Malaysia. This is the fundamental point of the Malaysia Agreement (MA 63).
“If the BN cannot even restore Sarawak’s rightful position in Malaysia as per MA 63, all other talks about autonomy by the Sarawak BN are mere red herrings,” he told a press conference yesterday after chairing PH Sarawak’s meeting here.
On another matter, the state DAP chairman said PH Sarawak had discussed in detail a second manifesto to be unveiled soon.
“Then part two of the manifesto will be released as and when is necessary, at the right time and at the right place.
“The seat allocation has already been finalised. We are ready, only waiting for the ‘easterly wind’ to arrive,” he said, alluding to the coming general election.