SARAWAK’S consultative committee on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 negotiations, say it is reserving comment on the proposed amendments to Article 1(2) of the federal constitution until committee members have seen the bill. 

“In short we have not seen the bill (so we are not commenting) although we were informed in the press,” Mohd Asfia Awang Nasser, chairman of the committee, said.

Today’s meeting with Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg was also to update him on MA63 discussions held by various committees.

The bipartisan consultative committee, formed by the state assembly, is to advise the federal MA63 steering committee.

The proposed amendment to Article 1(2) of the federal constitution would reinstate Sarawak and Sabah as equal partners with the peninsula in the Federation of Malaysia. 

“For the moment, the consultative committee would reserve its comments on the matter until after the proposed bill has been sighted by members of the committee. 

“We would, however support any amendments to the federal constitution or any law for that matter if we are convinced that it contains a substantive improvement to the rights and interest of the state and not merely for the purpose of window dressing,” said Asfia, who is also state speaker. – March 28, 2019.