PBS gave away State’s power: Berjaya exec
Published on: Thursday, January 15, 1987
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It said in a statement that the 20-Points were not written in the State Constitution nor were they entrenched in the Federal Constitution.
“One cannot simply say deviations from the 20-Point Agreement are against the laws or the constitution of Sabah and Malaysia,” he said.
He said if there were grievances concerning Federal and State relationship, it was best to resolve the matter through negotiations with Federal Government as Berjaya had done when it was in power.
Berjaya, he said, submitted a white paper on education and health facilities in Sabah as they were matters which were under the Federal jurisdiction.
According to Encik Solibun, the only substantial powers Sabah has, were on immigration, religion, education and language. Two of these powers had already been given away by Sabah, he said.
For example, he said , in 1973, Islam was made the State religion and that PBS further amended the State Constitution in 1985 to provide for the Yang diPertuan Agong to be the head of Islam in Sabah.
He said if there were any allegations of encroachments or deviations to the 20-Points by the Federal government, they were done with the full knowledge, co-operation and assistance of the State government including the PBS.
He said Article 16 of the 20-Points is very clear on the constitutional safeguards which says “No amendment, modification or withdrawal of any special safeguards granted to North Borneo should be made by the Central Government without the positive concurrence of the Government of the State of North Borneo. The power of amending the Constitution of the State of North Borneo should belong exclusively to the people in the State.”
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