SARAWAK’s quest to have its eroded special rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 reinstated and its position in the Malaysian federation redefined have been derailed by the ongoing political turmoil in Putrajaya.

The state’s Assistant Minister of Law, State – Federal Relations, Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, said this in a virtual seminar today.

The ‘Navigating the impacts of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 on national integrity’ seminar was organised by the Sarawak Unity Foundation (YPS).

Pointing out that redefining the position needs an amendment to the federal constitution and therefore the support of two-thirds of members of Parliament, Hasidah said with the political scenario now being played out in the peninsula, “it’s rather impossible” to get the amendments done.

She said Sarawak had submitted a raft of proposals for a “comprehensive amendment” of the federal constitution “to reflect reality”.

Among the proposals Sarawak is pushing for are an amendment to Article 1 (2) on the position of Sarawak and Sabah and Article 160 (2) on the interpretation of the federation.

She said Sarawak wants the words “the state of the federation pursuant to MA63” inserted in Article 1 (2) and the definition of the federation of Malaysia to be defined as pursuant to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and not pursuant to Federation of Malaya Agreement, 1957 in Article 160 (2).

“We are saying the definition defined in the federal constitution must mention that it is the federation established under the Malaysia Agreement 1963, and not under the Federation of Malaya Agreement 1957.

“What we proposed reflects reality. It is also factually correct because without MA63, there is no Malaysia.”

Hasidah said the proposals have been discussed at the allies’ working committee, one of three working committees under the special cabinet committee on the Malaysia Agreement.

Other proposals include inserting the definition of “Malaysia Day” in the constitution, amending Article 161A (7) to include the Iban, Bidayuh and Lun Bawang as natives of Sarawak, and the legal status of Sarawak and Sabah as ‘wilayah’ (territory).

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, on a working visit to Sarawak in April, had declared the two Borneo states as ‘wilayah’.

Hasidah said the issue had been discussed at the allies’ working committee, and it was agreed that, for now, the term ‘wilayah’ needs to be defined clearly.

She said the definition must be “in consonance with the federal constitution”.

“That’s why we are proposing a comprehensive amendment to the federal constitution,” she said. – August 12, 2021.