Chong speaking during a press conference at DAP headquarters today.
KUCHING: What does Sarawak have to lose by supporting the amendment Bill to Article 1 (2) of the Federal Constitution, questioned Pakatan Harapan (PH) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen.
Chong said the proposed amendment, which was tabled in Parliament last Thursday, was aimed at restoring the rightful status of Sarawak and Sabah.
“This constitutional amendment is not the end because negotiations and discussions on other rights are on-going.
“This is a start to restore the structure and framework of all the 13 states in Malaysia back to the original position in our 1963 Federal Constitution,” he said at a press conference held at the Democratic Action Party (DAP) headquarters here today.
Chong, who is Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs and DAP Sarawak chairman, cautioned that Sarawak and Sabah would remain as among the 13 states in Malaysia if Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and other non-PH MPs did not support the amendment Bill next Tuesday.
He said the proposed amendment was set to restore the rightful status of Sarawak and Sabah, as the Bill stated clause (a) the 11 Malayan states and clause (b) the two East Malaysian states.
The DAP lawmaker opined that the “huge ego” of GPS leaders and MPs were getting in the way of seeing Sarawak and Sabah have their rightful status restored.
Chong thus appealed to GPS to support the proposed amendment come Tuesday when the Bill would be read for a second time.
“If the Bill is rejected, Sarawak will remain one of the 13 states in Malaysia. I appeal to GPS to rethink their position.
“It is crucial for Sarawak to regain its rightful status in the Federation. If we miss this chance to amend the Constitution while GPS can continue to discuss with all the working groups, I don’t know how long it will take for them to come to consensus, and we will remain one of the 13 states,” he said.