Constitution amendments: Govt's commitment to strengthening position of Sabah, Sarawak

KUALA LUMPUR: The amendments to the Federal Constitution to be in line with the government's commitment to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) were made to strengthen the position of Sabah and Sarawak in the Federation of Malaysia, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

He said the amendments, as stated in the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2021, were also in line with the government's transformation agenda to restore the confidence of the public as well as foreign investors in the government's capability to ensure political stability and smooth implementation of the country's policies toward sustainable socio-economic development.

"(Mutual) understanding, as well as political, economic and social stability, expected to be achieved through this Bill is vital to create the solid foundation in the Malaysian Family," he said when tabling the Bill for the second reading at the Dewan Rakyat today.

The first reading of the Bill was done on Nov 3.

Wan Junaidi said the proposed amendments had been agreed to by both the state governments of Sabah and Sarawak before being approved by the Special Council on MA63 and the Cabinet in October.

Generally, Wan Junaidi said Clause 3 of Article 159 stated that the Federal Constitution could not be amended unless it was passed after the second and third readings by no less than two-thirds majority of the members of Parliament.

"Hence, clear implementation of policies had been undertaken to ensure that the proposed amendments went through various engagement sessions organised by the Prime Minister's Department's Legal Affairs Division and Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Division, as well as the Attorney-General's Chambers," he said.

Wan Junaidi said he personally had held engagement sessions with various quarters including the Sabah government through a presentation to the Chief Minister on Oct 3, and another engagement session with Sabah assemblymen on Dec 4.

For Sarawak, he said the presentation to the Chief Minister was done on Oct 15, while the engagement session with GPS MPs, on Oct 28.

He said the sessions with Keluarga Malaysia Backbenchers Club (Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional) were done on Oct 7 and Dec 2, while with the opposition (Pakatan Harapan) on Oct 12 and Dec 7.

-- BERNAMA