ANWAR Ibrahim blamed Barisan Nasional and Gabungan Parti Sarawak MPs for Putrajaya’s failure yesterday to pass the Federal Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2019 to restore Sabah and Sarawak’s equal status.

The lawmakers’ move to abstain from voting instead of rejecting the bill meant that it failed to secure two-thirds majority support or minimum 148 votes, the PKR leader said.

“Umno and BN did not reject, but did not vote, they just abstained with their own excuses. It’s all right, but we can all see the bill was very clear, that’s all,” the Port Dickson MP said at a Pakatan Harapan rally for the Rantau by-election last night. 

The bill, which did not get through block voting, resulted in 138 MPs supporting the amendment, none rejecting and 59 abstaining.

The bill was tabled and debated for nearly seven hours yesterday was part of efforts to restore the equal status of Sabah and Sarawak as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement in 1963.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad tabled it for the second reading yesterday. He said this was part of the PH election manifesto promises made in GE14.

“I am satisfied, I stood up to support Tun Dr Mahathir’s motion for PH because we fulfilled our promise, and that promise is in line with the federation of Malaysia Agreement 1963,” Anwar said.

With a total 138 MPs voted for the bill and zero votes against it, Putrajaya fell short of 10 votes to pass its first attempt in constitutional amendment.

Earlier, Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (GPS-Santubong) mooted that the bill be referred to a select committee.

A total of 136 MPs turned down the motion while 60 voted for it.

In his winding up of debate at policy stage, Dr Mahathir said there is no need to refer the bill to a parliamentary select committee.

“The amendment was quite clear, it was about (rewriting) about the provision on the formation of the federal states as according to the provision during the formation of Malaysia.”

There was also no need to refer the bill to the Conference of Rulers as this constitutional amendment would not touch on their status. – April 10, 2019.