Decision on fed-state ties constitutional matter, not political - Abang Johari

 

Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg today clarified that the decision the state government would take soon on ties with the Perikatan Nasional-led federal government was one based on the constitution and not political.

He said when the matter was mentioned during his speech at an event at Lubok Antu yesterday, he was actually referring to a proposal to amend the Federal Constitution to incorporate the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

“Prime minister (Muhyiddin Yassin) has agreed that we have to look at our Malaysia Agreement (MA63), basically the strategic one that is (by amending) our (Federal) constitution.

“(The) Constitution we have to amend, namely (Article) 160 that will incorporate the Malaysian Agreement, meaning its (the Article 160) interpretation,” he told reporters at a press conference after attending Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak’s 20th anniversary.

He was referring to Article 160(2) of the Federal Constitution which at the moment interprets the phrase the “Federation” as the one established under the Federation of Malaya Agreement 1957.

Abang Johari said the proposed amendment was for the interpretation of the phrase “Federation” to refer to the federation established under the Federal of Malaysia Agreement 1963.

“It will be another decision to be made between the federal and state government as far as MA63 is concerned. If this (the decision to amend the constitution) is the case, then we will have a good relationship between the federal and state government,” he said.

When speaking at a gathering at Lubok Antu Sports Complex yesterday, Abang Johari said that the State Government would announce soon a decision on its relations with the Federation of Malaysia pertaining to MA63.

“(The efforts to restore Sarawak’s rights under) MA63 is being carried out and I’m confident that we will make a decision soon on the state’s relations in the Federation of Malaysia,” he had said.

- Bernama