Baru Bian dismayed over MA63 delay

 

Selangau MP Baru Bian has expressed his dismay following the delay of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) constitutional amendments.

"It is a disappointment for Sarawakians and Sabahans who have been waiting a long time to see it happen.

"I am surprised that the attorney general's opinion was not sought in the first place especially on such a crucial matter as an amendment to the Federal Constitution.

"The various aspects of the bill should have been cleared by the cabinet before MPs were briefed officially of the proposed amendments during the recent parliamentary sitting," said Baru (above) in a statement today.

This comes after de facto Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar clarified that the constitutional amendments will be tabled in Parliament on Oct 26 as planned.

However, he said that its second reading, initially scheduled for Oct 28, will be rescheduled to another date to allow Attorney General Idrus Azizan Harun to explain the proposed amendments to cabinet members.

"This is not a complicated amendment as it only seeks to return to Sarawak and Sabah what has always been rightfully ours, and which was taken from us without our consent," said Baru who was elected under the PKR banner but now represents Parti Sarawak Bersatu.

"It is never too late to right the wrongs that have been done and all Sarawakians and Sabahans had been looking forward with eager anticipation for the bill to be tabled in Parliament.

"I hope the (delay) in tabling will not be for too long. I am looking forward to participating in the debate in support of the proposed amendments," said Baru.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar

The bill will seek to amend Article 1 (2) to redefine “the states of the federation” as the states of Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia) and the Borneo states (Sabah and Sarawak).

It will also seek to amend Article 160 (2) to include Malaysia Day as Sept 16, 1963, plus redefine “the Federation”.

The bill will further seek to amend Article 161A to redefine Sarawak “natives” and allow individuals to be given “native” status if one of their parents is a Sarawak native.

This amendment will also give Sarawak the power to decide which races can be recognised as indigenous.

Back in April 2019, the then Pakatan Harapan administration failed to get its MA63 constitutional amendments passed.

It fell short of the two-thirds majority needed as 59 lawmakers abstained from voting. - Mkini