SUPP urges Federal Government to restore Sarawak’s constitutional rights

suppadmin | September 28, 2025

Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Secretary-General Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew has called on the Federal Government to act on proposals made by the Governor of Sarawak, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, during the Statesman’s Lecture at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) on September 26.

“We congratulate and thank His Excellency for delivering such an insightful lecture, which gave profound interpretations on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), the Inter-Governmental Committee Report, and the Cobbold Commission Report,” Ting said.

He noted that Wan Junaidi, during his time as Federal Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, had successfully tabled the Federal Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2021 in Parliament to incorporate MA63 into the Federal Constitution. “His knowledge and leadership on constitutional rights continue to benefit Sarawak,” Ting added.

Ting stressed that SUPP fully supports the Governor’s proposal for the Federal Government to return powers that Sarawak enjoyed prior to 1985, such as the authority to appoint judicial commissioners. “Restoring these rights is a matter of constitutional entitlement and justice,” he said, urging the Federal Government to include this in ongoing MA63 negotiations.

He also highlighted the need for Sarawak to have greater control over citizenship matters, particularly to resolve the issue of stateless children. “SUPP has handled countless cases involving stateless children. If Sarawak is granted decision-making authority, these cases can be resolved more swiftly and effectively,” Ting said.

On the Continental Shelf Act 1966, Ting reiterated the Governor’s stand that the law was originally intended only for Malaya but was later extended to Sarawak without consent. “This is a serious constitutional error and must be rectified immediately,” he said.

He reminded that the core spirit of MA63 was equality and partnership, stressing that unilateral federal decisions undermine Sarawak’s rightful status. “The Federal Government must negotiate with Sarawak in good faith and uphold the true intent of MA63,” he urged.

Ting called on Sarawakians to remain united in defending the rights fought for by their forefathers. “Only through unity can Sarawak achieve greater development while safeguarding its rightful place as an equal partner in Malaysia,” he said.

He assured that SUPP would continue to advocate, at both political and legal levels, for the full implementation of Sarawak’s constitutional rights in close cooperation with the Sarawak Government.