KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) hopes the proposed amendments to the Federal Constitution (FC) will be supported by all MPs regardless of which side they are on when it is debated in Parliament.
PRS Women chief Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Brodie said the proposed amendments will correct many historical facts for a more meaningful Keluarga Malaysia.
“I am really looking forward to the said amendments to the FC to take place, particularly the amendment to the definition of ‘Natives’ under Article 161A of the FC.
“More so with this amendment, it will give power to Sarawak to determine the natives of this state,” she told New Sarawak Tribune yesterday (Oct 17).
In Sarawak, she said there are approximately 30 ethnic groups and inter marriages are also very common, hence it is very important to correctly define which of these groups are indigenous to Sarawak.
“It is very good that Sarawak is empowered to determine this through the state’s law as only Sarawak knows her people best,” she said.
On the proposed amendments to Article 1(2) of the FC, she said it would place Sarawak back to its original status in the spirit of the Malaysian Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“Also, the proposed amendment to Article 160(2) of the FC on the definition of ‘federation’ which currently refers to the Federation of Malaya Agreement 1957 to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) is very apt.
“This will also help to correct the many distorted perceptions especially among our younger generation that Malaysia was formed in 1957 when in fact Malaysia was formed on Sept 16, 1963.
“Malaysia Day is therefore on Sept 16 and not Aug 31,” said Doris, who is a political secretary to the chief minister.
