Why did Sarawak and Sabah lose their equal partner status in 1976?

Question

Accepted Answer

Sarawak and Sabah's Equal Partner Status Diminished by Constitutional Amendment in 1976

In 1976, Sarawak and Sabah's status as equal partners within the Federation of Malaysia was altered due to a constitutional amendment. This change meant that Sarawak and Sabah were no longer considered one of two primary partners but rather as two of the thirteen states then comprising the federation, fundamentally shifting their constitutional standing.
Constitutional Amendment Passed in 1976

A Bill was passed in 1976 that amended Article 1 of the Federal Constitution. This legislative action specifically redefined the relationship between the federated states, leading to the aforementioned change in the constitutional position of Sarawak and Sabah. The amendment effectively reclassified them within the federal structure.
Opposition and Deliberate Absence of a Sarawak MP

Ting Ling Kiew, who served as the Member of Parliament for Bintulu from 1974 to 1990, deliberately abstained from parliamentary proceedings on the day the Bill was voted upon. He believed the amendment was disadvantageous to Sarawak, arguing that it would necessitate sharing national resources with a larger number of states, thereby diminishing Sarawak's proportional share. Ting Ling Kiew was one of two MPs from Sarawak absent during the vote, the other being Tan Sri Leo Moggie who was overseas on official duties.
Consultations and Conflicting Advice

Before deciding to skip the vote, Ting Ling Kiew sought counsel from prominent Sarawak political figures. He consulted with the late Datuk Amar Dunstan Endawie, then president of the Sarawak National Party (SNAP), and the late Tan Sri Ong Kee Hui, former president of the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP). He also consulted with the late Tan Sri Dr Tan Chee Khoon, a former Opposition Leader. The advice received was varied; Datuk Amar Dunstan Endawie suggested he go to Singapore, implying a lack of strong party backing for his opposition. Tan Sri Ong Kee Hui insisted on supporting the Bill, warning of potential repercussions from the Barisan Nasional coalition if they opposed it. Tan Sri Dr Tan Chee Khoon advised Ting Ling Kiew to be absent during the vote if he did not wish to support the Bill, as his presence would be construed as endorsement.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

Why did Sarawak and Sabah lose their equal partner status in 1976?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends