KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth has asked Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen to answer the question himself on why Sarawak rejected the bill on the proposed amendment of Article 1(2) of the federal Constitution.
PBB Youth chief Gerald Rentap Jabu said it was rather disappointing to see a Sarawakian deputy minister supporting a mere reworking of the Constitution.
“You answer the question. How about the promise on our oil royalty?” he told New Sarawak Tribune here yesterday.
Gerald said if the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government was serious in giving its non-negotiable rights back to Sarawak, they would get the support on the bill.
“I’m sure not only the GPS MPs will support, the other Sarawakians members will support too.
“In this matter, we have to put ‘Sarawak First’,” he pointed out.
Meanwhile, Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Youth chief Robert Ayu said the proposed amendment was supposed to restore Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners in the Federation of Malaysia under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
“However after all of the hype and promises by PH, it’s disappointing to read the wording of the proposed amendment,” he stressed.
He mentioned that it did not put Sabah and Sarawak back to its real status.
“Personally, I would like the concept of equal partnership be clearly stated and defined in the amendment.
“To achieve this, all the stakeholders must discuss and agree to the amendment,” he pointed out.
He further argued that the debate should not proceed and be differed to the next Parliament sitting.
On Thursday, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Deputy Minister Chong Chieng Jen, who is also Stampin MP, had questioned why Gabungan Parti Sarawak MPs objected the bill after its first reading during the Parliament sitting.
