PUTRAJAYA failed tonight in its attempt to amend the federal constitution to restore the position of Sabah and Sarawak in the federation,.

The ruling pact failed to secure the magical two thirds majority, or 148 votes to effect the change.

The bill received 138 yeas, with 59 lawmakers, including those from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) abstaining.

None of the MPs voted against.

The ruling pact had been been counting on the 18 GPS lawmakers to see though the bill to amend Article 1(2) of the constitution.

But after a gruelling seven-hour debate among 48 MPs on both sides of the aisle, opposition lawmakers from Barisan Nasional, PAS and GPS decided not to support the amendment.

Instead of voting against it, however, the 59 MPs decided to abstain.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad declined to blame GPS for thwarting PH’s first attempt at amending the constitution.

 “They have the right to vote against it,” said Dr Mahathir in the Parliament lobby.

Yet he had “not quite expected” the bill to fall through. “We expected everybody to vote and to show two-thirds support for this.”

It was the first time since 2008 a minority government has attempted to amend the constitution .

The constitution was last amended in 2007 by the Barisan Nasional government to extend the retirement age of Election Commissioners to 66.

During the winding-up session at 9.30pm, Dr Mahathir reiterated the government’s commitment to restore Sabah and Sarawak’s positions in accordance with the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

“When we decided to form Malaysia in 1963, the agreement was between three entities – the Federation of Malay States and Sabah and Sarawak.

“This is the manifestation of our commitment to restore Sabah and Sarawak’s positions,” said the prime minister.

Signs did not look good for PH to make good its word, as upon the conclusion of Dr Mahathir’s speech,  Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (Santubong-GPS) made yet another effort to delay the amendment.

Earlier in the day, Wan Junaidi had put in a motion to refer the amendment to a select committee after the Second Reading.

After Speaker Mohamad Ariff Mohd Yusof allowed a vote on the motion, Wan Junaidi asked for block voting, despite knowing his side would be outnumbered.

The result was 60 votes for, 136 against and one abstention. – April 9, 2019.