‘I will leave it to legal experts’ — Premier remains neutral on proposed Bill to retain govt for a full term

Clockwise from standing left: Dr Abdul Rahman, Julaihi, Nanta, Sagah, Abdul Karim, Idris, Miro, Annuar, Fadillah, Awang Tengah, Abang Johari, Uggah and Fatimah photographed during the press conference at PBB headquarters in Kuching on Jan 14, 2024.

By Shikin Louis

KUCHING, Jan 14: Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg will leave it to the legal experts to determine whether the proposed special Bill to ensure that the elected federal government will serve its full term could be carried out or not.

Abang Johari who is also Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition chairman and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president, further said he has little knowledge on whether such a Bill materialise when the Federal Constitution states that the system of representative government is based upon ‘freedom of choice’.

“This means that we cannot exert force but we could use certain rules to monitor the political situation because our democracy is based on freedom of choice.

“I don’t know. I cannot comment on this.

“For GPS, we only want political stability at the federal level and we hope to prevent ‘Dubai Move’ or of any sort. We just want to focus on recovering the economy,” he said during a press conference at PBB headquarters here today.

Also present were PBB deputy presidents Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan; senior vice president Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof; vice presidents Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Datuk Julaihi Narawi, Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah and Miro Simuh; secretary general Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi; and information chief Datuk Idris Buang.

According to a report by Free Malaysia Today yesterday (Jan 13), Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Patinggi Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has proposed that a special bill be tabled to prevent any future attempt at overthrowing an elected government.

Zahid emphasised that such bill was important to allow the elected government to administer the nation without being threatened by its political enemies. — DayakDaily