MINISTER in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Parliament) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar is upbeat that enough MPs will support a series of proposed amendments to the Federal Constitution.

“So far, so good. From those that I had met to discuss my white paper, everybody supported them (the proposed amendments),” he told reporters in Kuching today.

A white paper is a government report or guide to help MPs understand a complex issue and the government’s position, in this case the proposed amendments, so they can make an informed decision.

The key amendments are: Article 1 (2), the status of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners in the federation of Malaysia; Article 160 (2) to redefine the federation; and Article 161A on the definition of Sarawak natives.

Wan Junaidi said he has had engagements with MPs from all the main coalitions and parties.

The amendments will be tabled for their first reading on October 26, with the second and third readings slated for October 28.

He said he had also discussed Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun to have the bill concluded by the final reading date.

He said it would not go well for any MPs from Sabah or Sarawak who fail to support him.

“I can assure you that if they don’t support, they are killing themselves. Honestly, how can they not support it?

“I also don’t see any reason ‘orang Sabah, orang Sarawak’ (the people of Sabah and Sarawak) would not do so.”

In giving more details on the proposed amendment to Article 161A, Wan Junaidi said the proposal is to repeal the whole article and give the powers to decide who are the natives of Sarawak to the state.

He said this would be easier to define in state law than using the Federal Constitution.

Under the current Article 161A (7) of the constitution, “the races to be treated for the purposes of the definition of “native”… as indigenous to Sarawak are Bukitans, Bisayahs, Dusuns, Sea Dayaks, Land Dayaks, Kadayans, Kalabit, Kayans, Kenyags (including Sabups and Sipengs), Kajangs (including Sekapans,. Kejamans, Lahanans, Punans, Tanjongs and Kanowits), Lugats, Lisums, Malays, Melanos, Muruts, Penans, Sians, Tagals, Tabuns and Ukits”.

The Sea Dayaks are the Ibans, the dominant ethnic group, while the Land Dayaks are the Bidayuhs.

The state has a long list of ethnic groups not listed in the constitution and therefore could not be legally considered natives.

Wan Junaidi also said under the proposed repeal, children from mixed marriages could be considered a native as long as one of their parents is a native. – October 15, 2021.