THE Pakatan Harapan (PH) presidential council has conveyed its disappointment over Putrajaya’s decision to postpone the tabling of amendments to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

The council expressed its regret over the deferral, claiming it occurred despite negotiations held in accordance with Article 5 of the Memorandum of Understanding between the government and PH.

“The presidential council is disappointed and regrets the government’s attitude in postponing the constitutional amendments to the MA63.

“We understand based on media reports that the bill will be tabled tomorrow, but will not be debated and passed on Wednesday as previously informed,” the council said in a statement today.

The statement was signed by opposition leader and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Upko president Wilfred Madius Tangau.

However, this afternoon de facto Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar revealed that the tabling for first reading tomorrow will not be done.

“Following an engagement session during a pre-council meeting yesterday, attended by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, we could not reach a consensus on the proposed amendments to some of the relevant articles in the Federal Constitution,” Wan Junaidi said in a statement.

Wan Junaidi said a new date for the tabling would be determined after a briefing by Attorney-General Idrus Harun on Friday.

The proposed amendments are on Article 1(2) on the status of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners in the “federation of Malaysia” and Article 160(2) to redefine the meaning of the federation to “provide clarity on the position of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia”.

The council said the coalition must fully support the constitutional amendments and urged the minister in charge to give a commitment to the implementation.

“PH must fully support this effort, which is a continuation of the PH leadership’s long-standing efforts, including in recognising Malaysia Day as raised by Anwar in 2008, as well as Lim Kit Siang’s stand in Parliament, which did not support the 1976 constitutional amendment that has changed the status of Sabah and Sarawak from ‘territories’ to ‘state’.

“Therefore, the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department must give a commitment to immediately implement these amendments for the sake of justice for the people of Sabah and Sarawak,” the council said. – October 25, 2021.