Federal Constitution amendments relating to MA63 tabled for first reading

KUALA LUMPUR: The government today tabled the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2021 for first reading in the Dewan Rakyat which, among others, seeks to insert mention of the states of Malaya and the Borneo states.

The bill was tabled by law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

Wan Junaidi said the bill would be tabled for second reading at the current Dewan Rakyat session.

Meanwhile, in a statement, he said the bill marked the beginning of a new chapter in the nation’s history and the first steps towards restoring the fundamental rights and principles on which the federation was created.

“After several attempts and many years of hard work, this is indeed a watershed moment in the history of the Federation of Malaysia, more so, for the people of Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.

He said this journey would not have been possible without the support and blessings of Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Wan Junaidi said the Special Council on Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) chaired by the prime minister had agreed to the proposals submitted to redefine some provisions in the Federal Constitution, within the context of the agreement.

He said all the necessary groundwork for this initiative had been completed, including engagements with both government and opposition MPs, as well as the chief ministers of Sabah and Sarawak.

The bill was supposed to be tabled on Oct 26 but had to be rescheduled because the Cabinet wanted to be briefed by the attorney-general on the amendments, he said.

The Cabinet later unanimously endorsed the proposed amendments, he said. — Free Malaysia Today