Sabah senator calls re-tabling of proposed amendment to Article 1(2)

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Datuk Yong Wui Chung

KUALA LUMPUR: Senator Datuk Yong Wui Chung has called for the proposed amendment to Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution to be retabled in the next Dewan Rakyat sitting, along with relevant provisions that should be amended in tandem with Article 1(2), including Article 160.

Yong, who is also the secretary general of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), said Article 160 should be amended as the provision currently defines the ‘Federation’ as ‘the Federation established under the Federation of Malaya Agreement 1957’.

“Article 160 should be amended together with Article 1(2) due to its significance to the people of Sabah and Sarawak,” he said in Dewan Negara when debating the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah’s speech during the opening of Parliament.

Nonetheless, Yong thanked the government for its initiative to amend Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution in order to restore the status of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners with West Malaysia.

“Although the constitutional amendment failed to meet the required two-thirds majority of the Dewan Rakyat for the bill to pass, it shows the Federal Government’s commitment to rectify the decades-old mistake.”

At the same time, he wished to know if the amendment to Article 1(2) has deterred the Federal Government from fulfilling its obligation to implement the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) that involves the 40 per cent special grant, oil royalty, stamp duty rights, autonomy in health and education for Sabah and Sarawak.

On another note, Yong has highlighted the budget cuts on security guards and janitors in schools, which not only affected thousands of workers, but also exposed students to security and health risks.

He said the Education Ministry had introduced a new three-shift system with an eight working hours’ limit, compared to two shifts with 12 working hours in the past.

“This will affect the income of security guards as they cannot claim for overtime pay because their working hours have been reduced.”

Additionally, he said the new system only has one guard per shift, which was insufficient for larger schools.

Yong said there had been a drastic cut in the number of janitors in schools as well, with many existing workers being laid off.

He said a school in Sabah with over 2,000 students has had its cleaning staff slashed from 12 to four.

“With a school of this size, how are the janitors supposed to clean the entire compound properly?

“The new system is unfair to the workers, who are mostly from the B40 group, as well as to the students and teachers at the schools.

“The Education Ministry and Finance Ministry should find a solution immediately as the issue will affect the morale of teachers, parents and students.”

On a separate matter, Yong pointed out that he had yet to notice any positive progress from the National Cost of Living Action Council (NACCOL) in addressing the increasing cost of living.

He also urged the government to take action against unscrupulous businesses at rural and suburban areas who are profiteers.

He supported the government’s effort to standardize minimum wages, provide living assistance and targeted subsidies, implement food bank programme and enhance its delivery system that would help elevate the standard of living for the people.