KOTA KINABALU: The proposed amendment to Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution is merely a re-grouping and play of words, says Sabah opposition leader Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (pic).

He said the proposed amendment changes nothing and does nothing to make Sabah and Sarawak equal partners with the Federation of Malaya.

“The proposed amendment maintains and re-affirms Sabah and Sarawak as the 12th and 13th States of Malaysia,” Jeffrey said in a statement here Friday (April 5).

“The ‘Federation’ as defined in Article 160(2) is still the Federation of Malaya created by the Federation of Malaya Agreement 1957,” he said.

Jeffrey said without separately defining the Federation of Malaysia as a new nation created on 16 September 1963, the proposed amendment has failed to relate Malaysia as an equal partnership between the Federation of Malaya and Sabah and Sarawak.

“The proposed amendment is premature. To truly make Malaysia a true federation and equal partnership of the Federation of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak, further deliberation is needed to produce a more comprehensive and holistic amendment,” he said.

“The way forward is to defer or withdraw the proposed amendment and have the issue deliberated by a Parliamentary Select Committee as well as all stakeholders including civil society,” he added.

Jeffrey said it should be debated and agreed upon by the respective State Legislative Assemblies of Sabah and Sarawak after that.

He claimed that the proposed amendment was a feeble attempt to mislead Sabahans and Sarawakians into thinking that the Pakatan Harapan government is restoring the equal status of Sabah and Sarawak when it is not doing so.

“They should remember that their positions and perks are not inherited by their children and future generations but the rights of Sabah and Sarawak properly restored will be inherited by their children and future generations as well,” he said.