BY NATASHA JEE & ALEXANDRA LORNA
KUCHING: Sarawak will continue to use both English and Malay as official languages asserts Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said an amendment will be made to the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (MoU) document inked between parties that form the Unity Federal Government, whereby Article 161 of the Federal Constitution is upheld in the agreement.
“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has agreed to that amendment,” he said speaking during the Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA) 21st anniversary dinner here last night.
Abang Johari was referring to Section 2(b)(iv) of the MoU documents whereby it stated that the Unity Federal Government would uphold the Malay language as the national language in line with Article 152 of the Federal Constitution.
Article 161 of the Federal Constitution allows Sarawak to use both Malay and English as its official languages.
“This afternoon (in Putrajaya), there was the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among the component parties forming the unity government and one of the paragraphs in that MoU was quoting Article 152 only.
“That is (about) the usage of BM as the official language. I amended it. I said not only Article 152, but you must also include Article 161 of the Federal Constitution that allows Sarawak to use both BM and English as its official language.
Abang Johari, who is also the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman further stressed that Sarawak’s rights will continue to be safeguarded.
“We must protect Sarawak’s rights, wherever you are, and they are protected by the state government,” he said.
