Willie Mongin
KUCHING: Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin says he is displeased with the words used in the proposed amendment to Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution, which was read for the first time this morning.
He believed that the wording could be refined.
He said this was because “Sarawak should be stated as Negara Sarawak (the Country of Sarawak) and Sabah as Negara Sabah (the Country of Sabah)”, and not just as one the states in the Federation.
The Bill, he said, should read the Federation of Malaysia should consist of:
(a) The states in the Federation of Malaya – Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Selangor and Terengganu – and
(b) The Country of Sarawak; and
(c) The Country of Sabah.
He lamented that based on the proposed amendment Bill, Sarawak and Sabah are not equal partners in the Federation of Malaysia.
He believed that the wording in the proposed bill that says, the states of the Federation shall consist of:
Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Selangor and Terengganu, and Sabah and Sarawak; may indicate that Sabah and Sarawak are just one of the states in the Federation.
And this, he added, may create confusion and misinterpretation.
“I have stated it very clearly in my Royal debate that I really want Sabah and Sarawak to be equal partners with the Federation of Malaya.
“That is why I suggest that we call Negara Sabah and Negara Sarawak equal partners in the Federation of Malaysia and the next steps will be the devolution of power and rights according MA63 to Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.
Willie, however, believed the tabling of the Bill was a good first step to legally restore Sabah and Sarawak’s rights under MA63.
He suggested that the wording of proposed Article 1(2) be amended when the Bill is read for the second time.