Constitutional amendment Bill to restore MA63 rights to be tabled by end Oct

6 Oct 2021

By Wartawan Nabalu News

KUALA LUMPUR: A Bill to amend the Federal Constitution to bring certain relevant provisions to be in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) will be tabled in Parliament by end of October.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Dato Sri Dr. Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said based on the ministry's timeline, he hopes that the first reading of the Bill could take place on 26 October, followed by the second reading on 28 October.

He said while the Attorney General's Chamber (AGC) is reviewing legal provisions, the ministry has already started its engagement exercise to explain the matters to key stakeholders including Members of Parliament, Sabah, and Sarawak leaders as well as the Attorney General in the two states.

“To date, the initiative has received support from Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji bin Haji Noor.

“Meanwhile a meeting with Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg to officially discuss the matter will also be held soon,” he said in a statement today.

Depending on the success of the engagement exercise, Wan Junaidi targets to have a special meeting on MA63, which will be chaired by Prime Minister Dato' Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, on 21 October and subsequent to this, a special paper on MA63 will be presented by the Prime Minister to the Members of the Cabinet on 22 October.

Based on the ministry's tentative timeline, the AGC is scheduled to come up with the Blue Bill on this, which will be presented to Members of Parliament, hopefully on 25 October.

Wan Junaidi explained that the legislative amendments to the Federal Constitution are crucial as it would provide clarity to the position of Sabah and Sarawak as well as the people particularly the natives of Sabah and Sarawak.

"Over the years there has been an erosion in Sabah and Sarawak rights as stated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963. We hope to rectify this by amending some critical provisions in the Federal Constitution," he added.