Anifah wants Sabah, Sarawak legislative assemblies to approve proposed constitutional amendments

Datuk Seri Anifah Aman. -Bernama filepic

KOTA KINABALU: Former foreign minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman (pic) wants the Sabah and Sarawak legislative assemblies to discuss and approve the proposed constitutional amendments tabled in Parliament on Thursday (April 4).

He said the amendments to Article 1(2) should not be done hastily and should have all stakeholders discussing it and agreeing to the changes aimed at restoring the two Borneo states as equal partners in the Malaysian federation under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

Anifah, who is Kimanis MP, said that in view of its importance and consequences, the proposed amendments of Article 1(2) should be bipartisan and involve all stakeholders.

“Specifically, the draft amendment Bill must be debated in both the Sabah and the Sarawak legislative assemblies and each assembly must pass a resolution adopting and approving the contents of the proposed amendments.

“Only then will Parliament have the political and socio-cultural legitimacy to pass the proposed amendments,” he said in a statement issued Thursday.

“I urge the federal government not to be hasty as this may result in negative actions if it is not given the necessary attention and research before the amendments are made.

"We should be able to study all aspects of the proposed amendments before it is tabled in Parliament,” he said in proposing that the debate on amendments be deferred to the next Parliament sitting instead.

Anifah said the proposed amendments to Article 1(2) of the federal Constitution to restore equal partnership of Sabah and Sarawak with the Federated States of Malaya (now Peninsular Malaysia) was of “utmost importance, not just to Sabahans and Sarawakians, but to all Malaysians.”

However, while Sabahans and Sarawakians eagerly await the amendments, he said that every care must be taken as it should not to be rushed in view of the long-term consequences and ramifications on the Borneo states.

“The concept of equal partnership must be clearly expressed and clearly defined in actionable constitutional terms - in language that leaves no doubt as to the obligations and duties owed to Sabah and Sarawak by the Federation.

“It should be holistic and embrace the concept of Malaysia as a progressive, united, peaceful and harmonious nation,” he said.

Anifah said it has long been a thorny issue and a cause of growing unhappiness amongst Sabahans and Sarawakians.

Sabah and Sarawak are seeking to restore their position as partners in the federation of Malaysia as per 1963 but Article 1(2) was amended in 1976 making Sabah and Sarawak two of the 13 states in the country.