Term's over, just give chance to others, Warisan-led govt told

KOTA KINABALU - Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) is raising concerns over the Warisan-led state government’s possible extension of the Sabah head of state's term.

PBS Information Chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said the current Yang di-Pertua Negeri (TYT) has already served the legal limit of two terms and nothing will be served by having the same candidate in office.

“What’s wrong with the existing provision? Will extending the term of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri do any extra good for the people?,” he asked in a statement here Tuesday (Dec 11).

The Kiulu Assemblyman said constitutional amendments must always benefit the people and not just certain parties only.

“Two terms is more than sufficient, give an opportunity to other distinguished leaders and personalities to be the Head of State and contribute to the development of Sabah,” Joniston said.

He said even the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong only serves one term, and this has been upheld by the Federal Constitution.

He claimed that various incidents surrounding the TYT were "strange".

This included the state government’s decision to add a hefty RM1.3 million for the TYT and entourage to perform the Haj pilgrimage in its supplementary supply budget in August.

Joniston said this comes from a state government which complained that the previous Barisan Nasional administration (which PBS was part of) had left the state's coffers virtually empty, indeed even bankrupt.

He said the state assembly is scheduled to convene a special sitting on Dec 13, and speculation was that this is to amend the state constitution to extend the term of the TYT.

“If the Yang di-Pertua Negeri’s term is not limited by law, the office will emerge as a de facto sultanship of sorts, as in the sultanates in Malaya,” Joniston said.

He said any extension of the term would definitely be seen as an aberration by other states with a Yang di-Pertua Negeri among others (the other states in Malaysia which have such a head of state are Melaka, Penang and Sarawak).

He said there have been controversies after the May 9 General Elections which saw two chief ministers being sworn-in by the TYT within just 48 hours on May 10 and May 12.

“Questions are being raised on the sanctity of the state constitution,” Joniston said.

He said if a little digression was permitted, all the recent events proved there was a conspiracy to breach the sanctity of the Sabah Constitution.