Caption: Datuk Yong Teck Lee holding a copy of the book The Birth of Malaysia, written by (the late) Datuk Amar James Wong Kim Min, a former Sarawak Minister, was a member of the Inter-Governmental Committee formed by the British and Malayan governments in 1962 to work out the constitutional arrangements, including safeguards for the special interests of North Borneo (now Sabah) and Sarawak.
KOTA KINABALU: Former Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee has offered to give a free lecture to minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong, and the MP for Kota Kinabalu, Chan Foong Hin, so that they can get a correct and comprehensive understanding of MA63.
“Hopefully, after the lecture, they will realise that the proposed amendment to Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution is hollow and meaningless.
“It is astonishing that Datuk V.K. Liew and Chan have ignored Article 160 of the Constitution which stated that: ‘The Federation means the Federation established under the Federation of Malaya Agreement 1957.
“Indeed, the proposed amendment tabled by Minister Datuk Liew Vui Keong in parliament yesterday reinforced MA57 (Malaya Agreement 1957) instead of honouring MA63 (Malaysia Agreement 1963).”
To complete the lecture, he said he would invite Datuk Dr. Jeffery Kitingan, the MP for Keningau, who is the foremost fighter for Sabah rights and ‘The 20 Points’ dating back to the 1980s, which led to his arbitrary detention without trial under the draconian Internal Security Act.
“The proposed amendment to Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution seeks to lump Sabah and Sarawak in one sub-section (b). That is all.
“The Explanatory Statement in the amendment bill which stated: ‘This amendment does not, in any way alter the functions of the Federal and State Governments under the concept of federalism’, is an insult to the intelligence of the people of Sabah and Sarawak and all Malaysians,” he said.