KOTA KINABALU: The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) has supported Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan’s call urging all quarters in the state, political parties and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) included, to join hands to champion Sabah autonomy and Sabahans’ rights.
Its President, Tan Sri T.C Goh also concurred with Dr Jeffrey’s assertion that any changes to the wording of the Federal Constitution affecting the Bornean states should be agreed upon by the Sabah government and its legislative assembly, rather than the federal ministers, before they are tabled in Parliament.
He also opined that the Federal government must always respect the stand and decisions of Sabahans and Sarawakians.
He said, decisions made in a democratic procedure would prevent unnecessary disputes later.
Goh who is also President of the Federation of Sabah and Labuan Hokkien Associations (FSLHA) was responding to the recent statement made by Dr Jeffrey, in which he emphasized that, whatever decisions to be made either by political parties or NGOs in regards to any changes to the wording of the Federal Constitution affecting the Bornean states, should be made in the best interest of the two states.
He also welcomed and supported the proposed amendments to the wording in Article 1(2) and Article 160(2) of the Federal Constitution, so as to restore the rightful position of the Bornean states, as equal partners in the Federation of Malaysia.
Goh who is also a member of the Sabah Economic Advisory Council (SEAC) also agreed with Dr Jeffrey that, proper amendments to the Federal Constitution would allow Sabah to regain its political autonomy and its share of the tax collections; this would then significantly boost Sabah’s financial capacity to better develop the state’s infrastructures, as well as developments in various sectors.
He went on to stress that, as a Sabahan and a component of Sabah, FCAS fully supports the proposed amendments to the Federal Constitution, in regards to the Malaysia Agreement 1963, and hoped that it will be fully endorsed by policymakers from both sides of the divide, as soon as possible.
Goh who is also President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) also proposed Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and his colleague cum Minister in charge of Sabah and Sarawak Affairs, Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili to engage with state governments of Sabah and Sarawak, to conduct a thorough study on the proposed amendments to the Federal Constitution, so as to ensure that it will be smoothly and successfully carried out without further delay.
He acknowledged that the people of Sabah and Sarawak are currently eagerly looking forward to a satisfactory closure to the long standing issue of restoration of the rightful position of the two states in the Federation of Malaysia, as agreed in the MA63.-pr/BNN
