KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 — The amendments to the Federal Constitution to be in line with the government’s commitment to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) were made to strengthen the position of Sabah and Sarawak in the Federation of Malaysia, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
He said the amendments, as stated in the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2021, were also in line with the government’s transformation agenda to restore the confidence of the public as well as foreign investors in the government’s capability to ensure political stability and smooth implementation of the country’s policies toward sustainable socio-economic development.
“(Mutual) understanding, as well as political, economic and social stability, expected to be achieved through this Bill is vital to create the solid foundation in the Malaysian Family,” he said when tabling the Bill for the second reading at the Dewan Rakyat today.
The first reading of the Bill was done on November 3.
Wan Junaidi said the proposed amendments had been agreed to by both the state governments of Sabah and Sarawak before being approved by the Special Council on MA63 and the Cabinet in October,
The Bill proposed to amend Clause 2 of Article 1 of the Federal Constitution to say the states of the Federation comprises:
(a) the states of Malaya namely Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Selangor and Terengganu; and
(b) the Borneo states, Sabah and Sarawak.
It is also to amend Clause 2 of Article 160 to insert a new definition of “Malaysia Day” and to change the definition of “the Federation” in line with the spirit of MA63 signed on July 9, 1963, and by virtue of the agreement relating to the separation of Singapore from Malaysia as an independent and sovereign state dated August 7, 1965.
The Bill also aimed to amend Article 161A by replacing Clause 6 (a) to say that in regard to Sarawak, the indigenous races of Sarawak are as stated in the state law; and also to remove Clause 7.
Generally, Wan Junaidi said Clause 3 of Article 159 stated that the Federal Constitution could not be amended unless it was passed after the second and third readings by no less than two-thirds majority of the members of Parliament.
“Hence, clear implementation of policies had been undertaken to ensure that the proposed amendments went through various engagement sessions organised by the Prime Minister’s Department’s Legal Affairs Division and Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Division, as well as the Attorney-General’s Chambers,” he said.
Wan Junaidi said he personally had held engagement sessions with various quarters including the Sabah government through a presentation to the Chief Minister on October 3, and another engagement session with Sabah assemblymen on December 4.
For Sarawak, he said the presentation to the Chief Minister was done on October 15, while the engagement session with GPS MPs, on Oct 28.
He said the sessions with Keluarga Malaysia Backbenchers Club (Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional) were done on October 7 and December 2, while with the opposition (Pakatan Harapan) on October 12 and December 7.
— Bernama
