Kota Kinabalu: There have been many instances of Federal Government failure to consult the governments of Sabah and Sarawak, said Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau.
According to him, almost every Sabah and Sarawak right enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) require Federal to consult Sabah and Sarawak if they want to make any amendments.
“For example, the amendment to Article 122 of the Federal Constitution in 1994 related to the power of the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sabah and Sarawak to appoint High Court Justices of Sabah and Sarawak.
“The Federal Government amended the Article without consulting the governments of Sabah and Sarawak. The status of the amendment is still pending today,” he told the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday.
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“Every mistake of the Dewan should be resolved by this Dewan instead of being referred to the court. Thus, the amendment of Article 122 of the Federal Constitution must be revised by the Dewan Rakyat,” he said.
Madius also expressed concern that the same might happen to the implementation of the Malaysian Inland Revenue Board Act 1995 (Amendment) Bill 2023.
The amendment to the Bill involves the appointment of Sabah and Sarawak representatives to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) board of directors.
“We are hoping that the appointment of Sabah and Sarawak representatives to the IRB board of directors will not end up in a legal conflict.
“The people of Sabah and Sarawak only want the entire MA63 agreement to be implemented as promised,” said Madius.
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