Dato Sri Nancy Shukri
KUCHING: Batang Sadong MP Dato Sri Nancy Shukri, who was among the 18 MPs from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) abstaining from voting the bill to amend Article 1 (2) of the Federal Constitution, said it would be ideal for the matter to be brought up at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN).
“On the issue whether we should bring it to the State Legislative Assembly, that to me is the most ideal move. This is because Sarawak has formed a State Consultative Committee comprising both the ruling and the opposition parties,” said the former federal de facto law minister.
“Although the 1976 amendment was never brought to the state, it doesn’t mean that we should repeat and follow the process in 1976. To avoid questions unanswered by many Sarawakians, refer to DUN for a better representation,” she argued.
Nancy was asked to respond to Works Minister and Sarawak PKR chairman Baru Bian’s statement that there is no need for Sarawak to go to the DUN to push for amendment of bill because even the 1976 amendment was not debated by Sarawak DUN members in the august House.
Nancy said the PH had now panicked because they should feel ashamed of themselves for causing the PH government and the Prime Minister to lose face.
“Why blame us? That remarks are really unbecoming of them and uncalled for,” said Nancy.
She pointed out that the 18 GPS MPs have never intended for the tabling of the bill to fail.
GPS MPs have made it clear to the Pakatan Harapan de facto Law Minister Liew Vui Keong that they wanted to defer the bill and let both Sarawak and Sabah legal fraternity, especially the respective Attorney Generals, to study the details and the implications of this amendment.
“We also asked for the Bill to be deferred because a special Cabinet Committee on the Rights of Sarawak chaired by the PM, where both the Sarawak and Sabah CMs are members. We want to see the committee’s final decisions with regard to the committee’s meeting will be.”
“Because we are of the opinion that it is inter related. Second option is, if the government insisted to push the Bill to be passed, please accept our proposed amendment for the sake of Sarawakians.
“Pursuant to MA63… it is important for us to include in the law since people, especially MPs from the PH side have been mentioning about MA63. This is to remind future generation to learn about the spirit of MA63, which was not stated in th Federal Constitution, especially on our 18 and 20 points for Sarawak and Sabah respectively.”
“The third option is to refer the Bill to a Special Select Committee. Our sincerity should not be an issue at all because we have stated our concerns clearly to the minister. We looked forward to the amendment. Since the amendment is not changing our status at all because we are already in a situation that the amendment was already made in 1976, then why rush?” she asked.
Nancy said GPS had no other agenda at all.
“The golden opportunity was only to obtain a two-thirds majority but why go back to something that doesn’t give us anything at all. We only want it amended with both sides to sit together and agree with the right words to tighten the Bill for Sarawakians. Who is insincere? ” said Nancy.