KUCHING, February 14, 2022 - Datuk Sri Karim Rahman Hamzah today said the tabling of the Sarawak Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2022 in the State Assembly tomorrow is essentially to put Sarawak in the right perspective in its continuous journey to reclaim its rights as equal partner in the formation of Malaysia.
He said it is also to enable the Sarawak government to handle more of its autonomy.
“We are just fine-tuning what we should be when Malaysia was formed because during the formation, there were five signatories namely the United Kingdom, Federation of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak,” the Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister, told reporters.
“But after Malaysia was formed, the last two entities namely Sabah and Sarawak seemed to have diluted and become just like any of the small states that are in the Federation of Malaya.
“So that is why we have to put things in the right perspective.
“Although our Chief Minister’s post will be renamed as ‘Premier’, there will be no significant change to his role.
“I have also cited the designation of “assistant ministers” which has also been proposed under the Bill to be renamed “Deputy Ministers”.
“The term assistant minister had previously created a lot of confusion where we had assistant ministers who went on official duties overseas but were treated as though they were “assistants” to the full ministers when they should not be.
“So the proper term for them should be “Deputy Minister so that everybody will know their stature.
“Likewise for the Chief Minister, I don’t think we would want to be on par with Penang or Melaka. “When we formed Malaysia, the signatories for the federated and unfederated Malay states, there was only one representing them.
“But when Malaysia was formed, the situation had changed and (they) cannot tell us that we should be alright with being on the same par with other states,” Karim, who is also the Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, said.
He said he believed generally fellow Sarawakians will be receptive towards the Constitution of the State of Sarawak (Amendment) Bill, 2022 that he will table tomorrow.
“I won’t be able to generalise or see what is the full response yet but those that have texted me have expressed that they are very happy with the Bill that I am going to table tomorrow.
“I will wait until tomorrow for the full deliberation because it will be too premature for me to comment on the Bill today.
“As it is, I can see that Sarawakians understand and they like the Bill and the proposed change,” he said.
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