FEDERAL Constitution amendments passed by Parliament last year to strengthen Sarawak’s constitutional status come into force today, said Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

He said the royal assent was given on January 19 to the amendments passed on December 14 last year, and gazetted on January 25.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah stated that the amendments be enforced from today, he added.

These amendments include article 1(2), which is to restore the article to its original arrangement recognising Sabah and Sarawak as “Borneo states”, as before in the 1963 constitution.

Article 160(2) is also amended to include “Malaysia Day” as September 16, 1963, which was the date of the formation of Malaysia.

Articles 161A(6) and (7) on the interpretation of natives of Sarawak are also amended.

Wan Junaidi said today is a “historical day” for Sarawak, as the amended constitution now recognises the Inter-Governmental Committee Report of Report of 1962 regarding the formation of Malaysia.

This recognition has given the state the constitutional right to make demands agreed on during the formation of Malaysia, but have yet to be fulfilled, he added.

“There is now a constitutional provision. That is the biggest implication of the amendments for Sabah and Sarawak.

“We can demand (what should be ours). The amendments are not theoretical and in name only.”

The then Pakatan Harapan government had tried to amend article 1(2) in 2019, but failed to get the two-thirds support needed from MPs to change the constitution.

At the time, even some Sarawak lawmakers voted against as they considered the proposed amendments weak. – February 11, 2022.