SUPP Central Youth welcomes Federal Law Minister to amend Article 1(2) of the Federal constitution

suppadmin | October 9, 2018

Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) called to Pakatan Harapan (PH) cabinet to agree with Datuk Liew Vui Keong, the law minister’s recent statement that the federal government will seek to amend Article 1(2) of the federal Constitution to restore both Sabah and Sarawak’s position as equal partners in Malaysia.

SUPP Central Youth Chief Michael Tiang said he welcomed the minister’s stance as he had shown his concerns for Sabah and Sarawak’s rights and position under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and apparently as a cabinet minister, Liew is willing to play his role in the Federal to seek the restoration of both Sabah and Sarawak’s position at soonest possible.

He assured that SUPP would give its full acknowledgement and support to the minister’s notion. It is always SUPP’s stance that the party is supportive of any federal policies and actions that are meant for the benefits of Sarawak.

Tiang reckoned that while Datuk Liew has displayed his political courage in speaking up for Sabah and Sarawak, the stance and performance by the 12 Sarawak Pakatan Harapan members of parliament, which include 1 full minister and 1 deputy minister are such a letdown to all Sarawakians.

“The Sarawak representatives in PH not only failed to speak up for Sarawakians in the cabinet, worse still they even tried so hard to persuade Sarawakians to accept the offered 20% oil profits, instead of the promised 20% oil royalty. Our Sarawakian deputy minister Chong Chieng Jen had clearly been assuring the people during the election campaign that all PH component parties had already reached agreement to return autonomy to Sabah and Sarawak, no further negotiations or talks are needed if PH managed to take over Putrajaya. However, after winning the general election, Chong‘s stance on what he had previously promised Sarawak people to fight for Sarawak rights was either ambiguous or remains on the silent note,” he added.

Tiang said that Liew, a Sabahan minister had given a fresh hope to both Sabah and Sarawak people. Supp hopes that there won’t be any “U-turns” but a beginning of a series of actions the PH government is going to undertake to restore both Sabah and Sarawak’s position and rights as equal partners in Malaysia.

“We also urge the PH government not to allow “equal partners” for Sabah and Sarawak to be a mere title without substance. Therefore SUPP demands the PH government to take the following steps to ensure Sabah and Sarawak’s equal partners status:

(1) to increase Sarawak and Sabah’s parliamentary representatives, at least according to the ratio agreed in 1963 as well as to ensure Sabah and Sarawak to have 1/3 parliamentary representatives in the parliament; and

(2) to review all federal laws and policies which are contravening MA63, particularly Territorial Sea Act 2012 and Petroleum Development Act 1974 so as not to be enforceable in Sarawak as the Acts were unilaterally and unconstitutionally passed to encroach onto the autonomy of Sarawak without Sarawak’s consent” he added.