DEWAN Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia has questioned why Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) did not abolish the law that made Islam the official religion of Sabah when it formed the government in 1985.  

He said one of Sabah’s demands during Malaysia’s formation in 1963 was that the state should have no official religion.

“But in 1976, I noted that the Usno (United Sabah National Organisation) government had amended the state constitution, naming Islam the official religion of the state as stipulated under Article 5A,” Pandikar said at an event organised by Gabungan Idea Pembangunan Sabah today

“When PBS defeated Usno in 1985, why did the PBS-led government not abolish the law, but instead, amended it to include Article 5B, making the head of the state as the head of Islam in Sabah?”

He said it was interesting to note that PBS had come into power by campaigning on a platform against the entry of illegal immigrants into the state and mass Islamisation exercises it claimed was rampant during Usno’s time.

“Why did PBS, led by Joseph Pairin Kitingan, not do anything to abolish or amend the law when it had the opportunity?” he said.

Earlier, Pandikar said there was no need for politicians to file a motion to review the Malaysia Agreement 1963 as all the special rights of the state had been implemented. 

He said Sabah enjoyed special privileges, such as that no lawyers from peninsular Malaysia could practice in Sabah and that those from the peninsula had to have a passport to enter the state.

“Aside from this, Sabah also enjoys steady progress, such as the development of the Pan-Borneo Highway and allocations,” he said.

He warned that efforts by the opposition in Sabah to file a motion to review the agreement could backfire, as Sabah could see a significant reduction in revenue.

“Imagine if the federal government collected a certain amount of money from Sabah through the goods and services tax and returned 40% of the total collection.

“What if this is less than the allocation being provided by Putrajaya at present? It is matters like this that we need to think about before opening our mouths to demand something.” – November 12, 2017.