KUCHING: The amendment to the state constitution is timely to reflect that the head of government in Sarawak is not on a par with or have the same status as the head of government of states in Malaya.
“For example, Penang chief minister or Menteri Besar Selangor is of lower status compared to the head of Sarawak government because Sarawak is one of the three regions in Malaysia,” Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira Sambang said when debating the State of Sarawak Constitution Amendment (Bill) 2022 in the State Legislative Assembly yesterday.
He supported the proposed amendment to Article 6(3) and Article 7A of the Sarawak Constitution whereby the Chief Minister shall be called Premier while Assistant Minister shall be renamed Deputy Minister respectively.
“Since Sarawak is a region in Malaysia, we should also amend the Sarawak Constitution to rename Dewan Undangan Negeri as Dewan Parliament Sarawak and a member of state assembly shall be called member of Sarawak Parliament. I hope a bill to effect this change will be tabled in this august house in future,” he said.
Gira believed that the constitutional amendment bill would strengthen the position of Sarawak in Malaysia.
“Sarawak will fight for her rights under the constitution such bigger allocation in the federal budget, and greater autonomy in education and health. With our ‘Sarawak First’ slogan, I believe all Sarawakians are putting high hopes for more inclusiveness and be given equal opportunity in whatever fields,” he pointed out.
