Bill on MA63 scheduled for Oct 26, tight deadlines set

 

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has ambitiously set Oct 26 to table a bill to amend the Federal Constitution on Sabah and Sarawak's status.

However, the bill will have to be scrutinised by Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg first. If successful, the cabinet will decide on Oct 22. Once that hurdle is passed, MPs can scrutinise the bill on Oct 25.

In a statement today, Wan Junaidi said so far, the bill has the support of Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor.

Wan Junaidi, who is the Santubong MP, said the bill will provide "clarity to the position of Sabah and Sarawak" in the federation.

"Over the years there has been an erosion in Sabah and Sarawak rights as stated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). We hope to rectify this by amending some critical provisions in the Federal Constitution," he said.

Current version

The MA63 is an agreement between the Federation of Malaya, North Borneo (now Sabah), Sarawak and Singapore.

In 2019, the Pakatan Harapan administration tabled a bill to amend Federal Constitution by reinstating Article 1(2) to its 1965 version which reads: "The states of the federation shall be – (a) Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Perlis, Selangor and Trengganu; and (b) Sabah and Sarawak."

The current version of Article 1(2), legislated in 1976, reads: "The states of the federation shall be Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Perlis, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor and Terengganu."

This bill, which required two-thirds support of the House to be passed, was defeated because only 138 MPs voted in favour while 59 abstained. - Mkini