Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing
KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing disagreed with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad when the latter said the bid to restore Sarawak’s equal partner status in Parliament in April, had failed.
Masing, who is Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president, pointed out that the demand for equal partner status was not defeated in Parliament, rather what was defeated was a constitutional amendment that ignored, among others, the term ‘in pursuance of MA63’ to be incorporated in the bill.
“By ignoring the term ‘MA63’ (Malaysia Agreement 1963), Putrajaya (federal government) was pulling a fast one on Sarawak and Sabah and hoped that the two eastern states would be part of the 11 federated Malay states, and not regions,” he said in a press statement yesterday.
“Sabah and Sarawak are not (states of the federation). They are the regions which signed the Agreement (MA63).
“Since its (bill) defeat, Putrajaya has agreed to review the bill to be inclusive of Sarawak’s requirements,” he stressed.
He claimed that Dr Mahathir, therefore, was not telling the truth in saying that the defeat of the bill was because Sarawak refused to be on equal status with the peninsula.
“Let’s play honest politics for once; otherwise, Malaysia as a nation will never be fully united,” said Masing.
When officiating at the Malaysia Day celebration here Monday night, the Prime Minister said efforts to restore the rights of Sabah and Sarawak would continue despite the failed bid in Parliament in April.
On April 10 this year, the bill failed to get the required two-thirds majority when 138 MPs voted in favour, 59 abstained, and none objected to the amendment of Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution.
The Constitution Bill (Amendment 2019) did not get the greenlight in Parliament when it was put to vote after more than six hours of fierce debate following its second reading by Dr Mahathir.
Given the significance of the bill to amend Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution, a two-thirds majority, or 148 votes, was required for it to be passed.
The proposed amendment of Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution sought to separate Sarawak and Sabah from being listed together with the 11 states of Peninsular Malaysia after the Article’s amendment in 1976.
Had the bill passed, the states of the federation would have been: (a) the States of Malaya, namely Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Perlis, Selangor and Terengganu; and (b) the Borneo States, namely Sabah and Sarawak.
Before voting began, Santubong MP Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) tabled a motion under Standing Order 54(2) to have the amendment bill referred to a Special Parliamentary Committee for further review. His motion, which was seconded by Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing – also of GPS – received only 60 votes in favour against 176 votes against, and caused the Speaker to announce that it be rejected.
The MPs from Sarawak who took part in debating the bill were Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof (Petra Jaya), Wan Junaidi, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri (Batang Sadong), Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim (Batang Lupar), Datuk Wilson Ugak (Hulu Rajang), Mordi Bimol (Mas Gading), Ali Biju (Saratok), Anyie Ngau (Baram), Dr Kelvin Yii (Bandar Kuching), Hasbi Habibollah (Limbang), Rubiah Wang (Kota Samarahan), Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang (Kanowit) and Ahmad Johnie Zawawi (Igan).
Dr Mahathir, in his winding-up speech then, said a Special Committee was not required for further review on this bill since the amendment was clear.
The negotiations and discussions between the federal government and Sabah and Sarawak governments, however, would carry on in line with the spirit of MA63, he said.