CMs have agreed with constitutional amendments, says law minister

Law Minister Liew Vui Keong said the proposed amendments to Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution was a "giant step" for Sabah and Sarawak towards restoring its former status.

He said he could not comprehend why opposition MPs from those two states now oppose the amendment bill despite having campaigned for the amendment in the past.

Liew said a briefing on the amendment for MPs was held today but none of the opposition lawmakers showed up. Grouses could have been raised at the briefing, he said.

According to him, the bill would essentially restore Article 1(2) to its position prior to an amendment in 1976. [See list of changes to Article 1(2) at the end of this article]

Moreover, said Liew, Putrajaya's intention to amend Article 1(2) had already received the approval of the chief ministers of Sabah and Sarawak respectively during the meeting by the Cabinet Committee on Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

On some opposition MPs' claim that the various high-level committees on MA63 should complete their tasks first before the amendment is tabled, Liew said this was not necessary as issues related to MA63 must be resolved long term.

He also brushed off claims by Gagasan Parti Sarawak (GPS) MPs that there needs to be more amendments than what was proposed by the federal government.

"All these things are ongoing and the amendments to the constitution is in line with the aspirations of MA63.

"We are looking into implementing (issues related to) MA63. Once we amend Article 1(2), it will be like a mothership, a base we can rely on.

"Then the meeting and negotiations can still go on," he told reporters at the parliament lobby today.

‘BN couldn’t do it in 43 years’

In any event, the opposition MPs could still raise their concerns during when the bill is debated after the second reading, said Liew.

He said the opposition MPs should appreciate that Harapan was now able to do, within a year, what BN couldn't do in 43 years.

The impact of the amendment, said Liew, would be felt within the years to come and he hoped that the opposition MPs would come to their senses.

Should the opposition MPs eventually fail to support the bill, Liew said they will have to answer to their constituents.

A bill to amend the Federal Constitution can only be passed with two-thirds support of the House.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is currently nine seats short of an outright two-thirds majority.

 -Mkini