Kho Teck Wan asked Chong to stop misleading the public

suppadmin | April 22, 2019

In responding to Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Chong Chieng Jen’s statement that a show-cause letter from GPS did not mention the need to amend Article 160(2) of the Federal Constitution, Sarawak United Peoples’ Party Wanita Chief Kho Teck Wan would like to remind the Assistant Minister to stop giving anymore lame excuses for misleading the public on the Federal Constitution Amendment Bill 2019, and start focusing on his tasks as the assistant Minister of Domestic Trade.

In view of the current sluggish economy, Kho urged Chong to seriously think about how to reduce the cost of goods, and provide more business opportunity for Sarawakians.

Kho said the need to amend the definition of Federation in Article 160(2) is known by both Pakatan Harapan (PH) as well as GPS Members of Parliament. YB Chong himself mentioned that during the first tabling of the bill, GPS MPs demanded that Article 160(2) should also be amended.

According to the Federal Constitution Article 160(2), the definition of Federation is defined as the Federation established under the Federation Malaya Agreement 1957. According to Kho, many Sarawak legal experts including GPS leaders had proposed that the definition of Federation in Article 160(2) be amended to the “the Federation established under the Malaysia Agreement 1963”. Without the amendment, Sarawak and Sabah are considered as one of the State in the Federation of Malaya.

Prior to the parliament debate of the bill on April 9th 2019, SUPP Secretary General YB Datuk Sebastian Ting had released a press statement on March 10th expressing the need to amend the definition of Federation in Article 160(2) together with Article 1(2).

On March 20th 2019, the Kuching MP YB Kelvin Yii followed suite with a similar press statement expressing the need to amend Article 160(2) of the Federal Constitution.

Kho said she was at the parliament during the day of the second reading, and was puzzled as to why despite having many opportunities to speak, no PH MP speak up on the need to amend Article 160(2) during the entire 7-hours debate.

This showed that the PH MPs especially from Bandar Kuching know all along about the need to amend FC Article 160(2), yet choose to stay silent and dare not to question the Law Minister in their debates.

Should the Amendment Bill 2019 pass on April 9th, it will further affirmed Sarawak as one of the 13 States in the Federation of Malaya. Sarawak will not be in any better position than she currently is.

According to Kho, GPS will continue to fight for Federal’s recognition of Sarawak as equal partner. Kho would also like to remind Sarawakian that amending Federation Constitution is a serious matter that should not be rushed and taken lightly by any party. Any amendment to the Federal Constitution impacting Sarawak’s financial resources and special allocations should also be referred to the Sarawak’s State Assembly.

Kho opined that many Sarawakians today are taking an interest in learning the contents of Malaysia Agreement 1963, IGC Reports and Federal Constitution. “Sarawakians are more aware of our rights as compared to the year 1976. The late Adenan had leaded us in the journey of devolution of power since 2015. Sarawak also has more professionals, and is much stronger in her financial position than in 1976. Any move to mislead the public will not pass the sharp eyes of Sarawakian easily.” Kho added.