Insincerity in rectifying status of Sabah, S’wak obvious: Yong
Published on: Thursday, April 11, 2019
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President Datuk Yong Teck Lee (pic) wonders whether Sabah and Sarawak were cheated again following the Federal Government’s failure to get the nod from the Dewan Rakyat for the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2019.
He argued that in the first place, the defeated Bill did not seek to restore equal status to Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya.
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“Nowhere in the bill or in the Explanatory Statement in the Bill was ‘equal status’ mentioned at all. The Bill listed Sabah, like Sarawak, as one of the thirteen states, like any of the Malaysia states,” he said.
He pointed out that the Bill also reiterated that: “This amendment does not, in any way, alter the functions of the federal and State Governments under the concept of federalism.
“The bill does not change the status of Sabah and Sarawak,” he stressed.
Yong further explained that the Bill left untouched the offending Article 160 defining the Federation as the Federation of Malaya formed under the Federation of Malaya Agreement 1957.
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“Why did the Government not want to correct this serious anomaly in the Federal Constitution that defined Malaysia as Malaya 1957? This must be answered.
“Some MPs demanded that the Bill be sent to a Parliamentary Select committee for further discussion. This was rejected by the government MPs who form a simple majority.
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“As an ex-parliamentarian, I know that the Bill should have been sent to a parliamentary Select Committee for further deliberations as demanded by some MPs.
“The committee discussion would have given more time and space for the Bill to be improved.
“Why the MPs were denied a chance to discuss this Bill at the committee?” asked Yong.
He also asked why the government had rushed the Bill knowing that it will be defeated.
“By the time, the Government already knew that they did not have the number of 148 MPs to get the two-thirds majority.
“Then, why did the government insist on moving the Bill for a vote by the House (Parliament) knowing that it will be defeated?” he asked.
He pointed out that as a matter of good governance, the government should have allowed the Bill to be scrutinised by a Committee.
“There was absolutely no valid reason to rush the Bill and force it upon the MPs. Why were MPs offered a Bill that is a no-win trap? If MPs supported the Bill, they stand accused of abandoning MA63. But if they rejected the bill, they are accused of not favouring ‘equal status’. Is there an ulterior motive?” asked Yong.
He said when compared to the reversals on ICERD and the Rome Statute (International Criminal Court), a deferment of this 2019 amendment is a non-issue at all.
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