The Malaysian Insight

SABAHANS have missed an opportunity to reclaim the state’s position as one of three equal partners in the federation of Malaysia, after Putrajaya failed to push through a bill to amend the federal constitution last night, said Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal.

Last night, the bill was 10 votes short of two-third majority needed for it to pass, with only 138 MPs agreeing while 59 chose to abstain.

“What really saddens me, the bill was there and we had our chance to get it through,” Shafie told reporters upon his arrival at Kota Kinabalu earlier today.

“Unfortunately, we have done our very level best. I had also spent a bit of my time to mingle with the other MPs to reinstate and not to add any more than what was agreed in 1963.

“Today, we could have been one of three.”

However, Shafie said it was “not the end of the road yet” for Sabah’s efforts to reclaim its rightful position.

Shafie said the question of Sabah’s status in the federation has taken 56 years to be brought to Parliament.

“This is only the first step, and we can’t do it. To reinstate is not difficult,” he said.

“We only want to legitimise what was spelt out in 1963 and put it back in the constitution.”

He said only the prime minister could decide when to table the constitutional amendment againt, adding that he hoped it could be done during Dr Mahathir’s time in power.

“(Dr Mahathir) knows quite a lot stuff during the winding up, I listened to his winding-up speech and when a question posed to him on 1957 he was able to explain.” – April 10, 2019.