RIGHTS activists are starting a push to get state lawmakers on both sides of the political divide to work “with one mind” to defend the state’s position in the Malaysian federation.

Sarawak Association for Peoples’ Aspiration (Sapa), banned by the previous Barisan Nasional government in November 2014, will start the push with a rally in Kuching on April 28.

Sapa was banned in an attempt to muzzle it from speaking out against perceived violations of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) report.

The two-hour Negara Sarawak Rally at Padang Merdeka aims to get to ordinary Sarawakians to demand that their elected representatives work out a common stand on the status of Sarawak in the federal constitution.

Organising chairman Peter John Jaban said the rally, on the eve of the state legislative assembly sitting, is also aimed at getting the people to push the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to table a special motion to debate the recent constitutional amendment bill that failed to get the two-thirds support of MPs to pass.

“It is time for the people to show what they want.

“We are calling all Sarawakians from all walks of life, ages and cultural backgrounds to join the rally… to send this strong message as one united Sarawak.

“We want this amendment to be debated in the (state assembly). GPS has said it wants this to be a holistic amendment and not cosmetic, so proper debate is needed, “ Jaban told a press conference in Kuching today.

The failed bill in Parliament last week was to amend Article 1(2) of the constitution to return Sabah and Sarawak’s status as equal partners in Malaysia.

However, 18 GPS MPs abstained from voting as their demand to insert words to make it clear that the formation of the federation of Malaysia and position of Sabah and Sarawak are “pursuant to the MA63” were not met.

Only 138 MPs voted for it – 10 short of the required two-thirds majority, or 148 votes.

Sapa president Dominique Ng said the state assembly should debate the failed amendment as some GPS MPs, in demanding the withdrawal of the bill, had stated its proposal should be debated by Sarawak lawmakers first.

Ng also slammed Sarawak Pakatan Harapan MPs, saying “it was quite shameful to hear” them supporting an amendment “that actually goes against the spirit of the MA63”.

Ng said the PH MPs had not only failed to undertake proper in-depth analysis of the amendment, they were “even prepared to support the amendment at the first draft, which was clearly inadequate”.

The former Padungan assemblyman – PKR’s first ever – said since the PH MPs were elected by Sarawakians, they are, therefore, “duty-bound to speak on behalf of Sarawak rather than their current Malayan party masters”.

On the amendments, Sapa said it is concerned with some the Malay wordings used in the constitution.

Of particular concern is the use of the Malay word “Negeri” in reference to the two Borneo states.

They preferred that the word “Negara” be used, saying that should there be any legal dispute over interpretation, the Malay interpretation would be used in any court of law.

Ng said he was surprised Sarawak PH MPs failed to spot the provision that would not change Sabah and Sarawak’s special position as founding states, even if the bill to amend Article 1(2) was passed.

“We are not talking about a simple amendment to the constitution. We are talking about an amendment that will affect the status of Sarawak and Sabah as they were originally meant to be.

“Pakatan has it all wrong. The current leaders must not repeat mistakes made by our leaders in 1976 and 1963.

“This is a chance to not only rectify our history, but also rectify the constitutional status of Sarawak.

“We cannot afford any more mistakes.” – April 15, 2019.