Opposition Nod For Amending Constitution To Align With Ma63 Says Minister

---

 
The amendments are expected to be tabled on Oct 25 for the first reading and Oct 28 for the second reading. (Bernama pic)KUCHING: The opposition bloc in the Dewan Rakyat have agreed in principle to the proposed amendment to the Federal Constitution to make it in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
According to law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, several meetings were held with opposition political parties, during which they pledged their support to the proposed amendment.
“I have met with Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional to get their support and have also held separate meetings with Warisan and Pakatan Harapan recently,” he said at the meet-and-greet session with the Sarawak media practitioners here today.
Wan Junaidi said he had also spoken with Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Harun about tabling the amendment for first reading on Oct 25 and second reading on Oct 28.
On Sarawak’s application to the Election Commission for a redelineation of parliamentary constituencies in the state, Wan Junaidi said the matter would be discussed with the federal government soon and is expected to be resolved by 2023 at the latest.
He said chief minister Abang Johari Openg had wanted parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak MPs to be increased to more than 30% from the current 20% out of the total 222 seats.
“The redelineation exercise is in line with Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) proposal and demand that the number of peninsular parliamentary seats not make up a two-third majority that can automatically pass a bill in Parliament, which is likely to jeopardise the interests of the Borneo states,” he said. - FMT

---