The Advocates Association of Sarawak (AAS) said this would be a pivotal step towards fulfilling the Malaysia Agreement 1963, The Borneo Post reported.

AAS president Gurvir Singh Sandhu said the constitution should be amended to reflect the Malaysia Agreement section empowering the governors of Sabah and Sarawak to appoint judicial commissioners on the advice of their chief ministers.

“I do wish to highlight our hopes that urgent steps be taken to make the necessary amendments to restore the powers of the head of state of Sarawak to appoint judicial commissioners,” he was quoted as saying.

The Federal Constitution currently provides for judicial commissioners for the High Court in Malaya as well as Sabah and Sarawak to be made by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at the advice of the prime minister, after consulting the chief justice.

The current Sarawak governor is Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, a former law minister.