GABUNGAN Parti Sarawak (GPS) has welcomed the setting up of a parliamentary select committee to look into implementation of the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63), saying that “it’s something we always wanted”.

GPS chief whip Fadillah Yusof said the state ruling pact was “more or less happy with it”, adding that the select committee was very much in line with the recommendations of GPS MPs in the recent debate on the constitutional amendment bill.

“We are grateful to the federal government and hope that by setting up the committee, the (new) amendments will be discussed more thoroughly before they are tabled again in Parliament,” he said.

He also said the decision to set up the committee proved the federal government and Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad were sincere in continuing the negotiations to restore the status of the two Borneo states and returning rights and privileges.

The government recently failed to pass the bill to amend Article 1(2) of the federal constitution with 10 votes shy of the two-thirds majority needed.

The 18 GPS MPs abstained from voting on the bill, saying it “fell short” of their demands. 

They had sought the withdrawal of the bill and have it referred to a select committee  for further study. 

Santubong MP Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar had earlier said if the bill had been referred to the select committee, it could have been a “win-win situation for everyone”.

Sarawak Pakatan Harapan leaders were against referring the bill to the committee, preferring to vote on the bill that was tabled.

The de facto law minister Liew Vui Keong’s announced the setting up of the committee yesterday.

A parliamentary select committee is made up of a small number of MPs to deal with particular issues, in this case, the implementation of the MA63.

Liew said the select committee would complement the cabinet special committee on the matter. – April 21, 2019.