BINTANGOR: No approval was given by the Sabah and Sarawak Chief Ministers pertaining to amendment of Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution in its current form, Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said today.
He said the Cabinet Committee on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) never discussed the actual wording of the amendment in its meetings.
“Let me state, although we approved the intention to amend Article 1(2) in principle, no approval was given in respect of the amendment in its current form. This was because the committee never discussed the actual contents and wording of the amendment,” said Abang Johari.
He stressed that he had highlighted at the first steering committee meeting that the discussions and decisions should be within the parameters of the Federal Constitution and MA63 .
Abang Johari said this during a press conference after performing the Earth Breaking Ceremony for Pasi Road (Sarikei)-Tanjung Manis (Mukah) Coastal Road/Batang Rajang Bridge Project at Km 3 Pasi/Selidap, Off Skim B Road Junction here today.
The amendment bill to change Article 1 (2) to restore rights of Sabah and Sarawak as per the MA63 that was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat last week met objections from opposition MPs, including from Gabungan Parti Sarawak, which is in power in the state.
These MPs wanted the amendment bill to be referred to a Parliamentary Select Committee first for a thorough study. — BERNAMA