The Dewan Rakyat tonight failed to meet the necessary two thirds or 148 votes required to restore Sabah and Sarawak to their original status in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). Pic by NSTP/MOHD YUSNI ARIFFIN

By Sayed Umar Ariff abd Batrice Nita Jay – April 9, 2019

KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat tonight failed to meet the necessary two thirds or 148 votes required to restore Sabah and Sarawak to their original status in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

Block voting at the end of a day-long debate on the second reading of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2019 saw only 138 lawmakers supporting the move.

There were no lawmakers opposing the bill, while another 59 lawmakers in the lower house of Parliament abstained from voting.

There were a total of 197 out of the 221 Dewan Rakyat members who were present for the vote.

There was also one vacant seat, following the death of Sandakan federal lawmaker Stephen Fong.

The bill sought to amend Article 2(1) of the Federal Constitution.

A total of 46 federal lawmakers took part in the debate involving the amendment, earlier in the day.

In his winding up speech, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the lawmakers in general support the amendment, some with conditions.

He added that there is also no need to refer the amendments to the Rulers Conference as it did not touch the rulers special privileges, rights and position.

On the need for the amendment to be refered to the respective Sabah and Sarawak state assemblies for their permission, Dr Mahathir said no such provision was contained in the federal constitution, which required for such a move.

The Prime Minister also said the government also has no problems in the formation of a Special Parliamentary Select Committee comprising members of Parliament to review the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

A member of the Parliamentary Select Committee will also be appointed into the Special Cabinet Committee reviewing the implementation of MA63 Dr Mahathir said.

Dr M: Powerful NSC Act has to be amended

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says it’s necessary to amend the powerful National Security Council (NSC) Act 2016. – Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: It is necessary to amend the powerful National Security Council (NSC) Act 2016, as the law in itself is wrong.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said under the act, the power given to the prime minister was akin to the power to determine life and death over people.

“It was a wrong law anyway. The power to declare an emergency is with the King.

“Of course he would be advised by the prime minister.

“But, when you give the power to the prime minister it is possible for him to declare a certain area as a security zone and in that area he can arrest people without going to the court and if somebody dies, (or the one) who is arrested dies, there will be no inquiry.

“Actually (that is) the power of life and death over people and that is terrible,” the prime minister told a press conference at Parliament lobby today.

Dr Mahathir said this was the reason the power given should come with limitations.

“So, that is why we don’t want to give the prime minister too much power to the point where he can actually break the law legally,” he said.

Earlier today, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Hanipa Maidin tabled the amendment bill for first reading.

Among the amendments proposed was for the power to declare “security zones” to be transferred from the prime minister to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, as per Section 2 and Section 18 of the act, upon receiving the advice of the council.

The National Security Council Act 2016 is to provide for the establishment of the National Security Council, the declaration of security areas, the special powers of the Security Forces in the security areas and other related matters