Who deliberately skipped the 1976 Bill vote in Parliament?

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Ting Ling Kiew Deliberately Skipped the 1976 Constitutional Bill Vote

Former Bintulu MP Ting Ling Kiew revealed that he intentionally absented himself from Parliament during the 1976 vote on a constitutional Bill that altered the status of Sarawak and Sabah within the Federation of Malaysia. This decision was made after consultations with other political figures and reflected his opposition to the Bill, which he believed unfairly diminished Sarawak's position.
Consultation with Political Leaders

Ting Ling Kiew consulted with several prominent political figures before making his decision to skip the vote on the Bill to amend Article 1 of the Constitution in 1976. These consultations included discussions with the late Datuk Amar Dunstan Endawie, the president of Sarawak National Party (SNAP), the late Tan Sri Ong Kee Hui, former president of Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), and the late Tan Sri Dr Tan Chee Khoon, former Opposition Leader. He also noted that former federal minister Tan Sri Leo Moggie was absent from Parliament during the vote, though Moggie was reportedly overseas on ministerial duties and likely would have voted in favour of the amendments had he been present.
Opposition to the Bill's Implications

Ting Ling Kiew expressed his strong objections to the Bill, stating that Malaysia should be viewed as a "big cake" and that after the Bill's passage, Sarawak would have to share this cake with 12 other states, which he considered unfair. He believed the Bill should not have been rushed and suggested it be tabled after the next general election to allow for thorough study of its implications for Sarawak. This viewpoint contrasted with that of Tan Sri Ong Kee Hui, who reportedly insisted that Ting Ling Kiew support the Bill to avoid potential repercussions from the Barisan Nasional.
Advice to Avoid Voting

The late Tan Sri Dr Tan Chee Khoon advised Ting Ling Kiew that if he did not wish to support the Bill, he should not be present in Parliament during the vote. Dr Tan explained that being present would register his attendance and necessitate his support. Following this advice, Ting Ling Kiew opted to stay away from Parliament, thereby avoiding being recorded as a supporter of the constitutional amendment.

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Who deliberately skipped the 1976 Bill vote in Parliament?

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