Proposed amendment bill on Constitution to be tabled soon, says Ongkili

 By Olivia Miwil - October 29, 2021 @ 7:52pm

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili (pic) said the endorsement was made after a briefing by Attorney General Tan Sri Idrus Harun in Cabinet. - NSTP/KHAIRULL AZRY BIDIN

KOTA KINABALU: The Cabinet will table the bill to amend Article 1(2) and Article 160(2) of the Federal Constitution, soonest.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said the endorsement was made after a briefing by Attorney General Tan Sri Idrus Harun in Cabinet.

"During the briefing, the AG answered all legal queries on the proposed amendments, especially on Article 160(2)," he said in a statement.

Ongkili, who is also the Kota Marudu Member of Parliament, said the first reading of the Constitutional bill would be tabled by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar in the coming weeks.

The second reading for debate and voting will be after the Budget debate during the current Parliamentary session.

"The crucial and historic resolution are the proposed constitutional amendments on Article 1(2) and 160(2) pertaining to the equal status of Sabah and Sarawak, to redefine the definition of 'federation', and institutionalising Sept 16 as Malaysia Day."