- December 13, 2018 @ 3:17pm
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Legislative Assembly passed an amendment on State Constitution to remove the term limits for Yang di-Pertua Negeri during a special sitting today.
The amendment was approved when 46 state assemblymen supported while 14 against it during the voting for second and third reading of the bill.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal in his winding-up speech said the institution of palace institution is a significant symbol and it is timely to make amendment to protect the head of state.
“If inappropriate laws are not being amended, there will be many incidences, for instance Yang di-Pertua Negeri became a target after general election.
“It is also not just on (honouring Malaysia Agreement) 1963 (MA63), or branding, but it is more important to appoint someone with quality, and not just based on races.
“There will also be amendments to be made next year on the powers and limits of head-of-state for future political stability in Sabah,” he said, assuring that the amendment has nothing to do with any discussions between him and current Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin.
Mohd Shafie also explained that the amendment does not necessarily mean holding the head-of-state position permanently or retire at certain age as in civil services.
During debate, Jamawi Jaafar (Kemabong-Independent) and Datuk Abidin Madingkir (Paginatan-Upko) had said that the amendment would honour the MA63 by reverting its original content on having unlimited terms as head of state.
In 1987, Parti Bersatu Sabah government had amended the Constitution to limit the Yang diPertua Negeri term to two years.
Meanwhile, Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (Tambunan- Star) also debated that the bill was unnecessary as it did not bring benefit to the people.
He also called to reinstate the name of Yang di-Pertua Negeri in Sabah to Yang di-Pertua Negara as in during early years on the formation of Malaysia.
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