KOTA KINABALU: Sabah leaders welcomed the constitutional amendment passed in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Dec 14) and say it is the first step towards restoring the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

       The leaders said that the amendment now allowed for the two Borneo states to pursue its rights under the Malaysian Federation agreement that was clearly stated under Act 26 of the MA63.

       Sabah STAR president Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan, who is Keningau MP, hoped that the amendment would allow for Sabah to pursue its rights on matters on education, health and other pressing issues.

       The Opposition's Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said that the amendment was important to ensure that the Malaysian Constitution was in line with what was originally contained in the agreement that was endorsed by the United Nations.

       He said the 1976 constitutional amendments by Parliament had put Sabah and Sarawak under the states of Malaya and not as part of the Borneo states that came together to form a nation.

       Shafie said the amendment was necessary to make the distinction between the states of Malaya and Borneo clear.

       "We support the amendment wholeheartedly because Malaysia's Constitution, after the 1976 amendment, was no longer in line with the Sabah and Sarawak constitutions.

       "The amendment is important for the country. We do not want to play politics as this same matter was once tabled in April 2019 but failed to be passed for various reasons and doubts.

       "We agree that the amendment to Article 1(2) is the basis to the Malaysian constitution to clearly define the regions that came together under Malaysia.

       "There is no reason for us to object to it," he said, adding that they are also looking for further amendments as part of efforts to regain state rights.

       All seven Warisan MPs supported the amendment Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2021, which was passed with more than two-thirds majority on Tuesday. A total of 199 lawmakers had supported the bill while another 21 MPs were not present.

       The Bill, which was earlier tabled by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, amends Clause 2 of Article 1 of the Federal Constitution to say the states of the Federation comprise:

       (a) the states of Malaya namely Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Selangor and Terengganu; and

       (b) the Borneo states, Sabah and Sarawak.

       The Dewan also passed an amendment to Clause 2 of Article 160 to insert a new definition of “Malaysia Day” and to change the definition of “the Federation” in line with the spirit of MA63 signed on July 9, 1963, and by virtue of the agreement relating to the separation of Singapore from Malaysia as an independent and sovereign state dated Aug 7, 1963.