Federal Constitution · Reprint · Part XII
161. Use of English and of native languages in States of Sabah and Sarawak
Feedback & supportNo Act of Parliament terminating or restricting the use of the English language for any of the purposes mentioned in Clauses (2) to (5) of Article 152 shall come into operation as regards the use of the English language in any case mentioned in Clause (2) of this Article until ten years after Malaysia Day.
Clause (1) applies—
to the use of the English language in either House of
Parliament by a member for or from the State of Sabah or Sarawak; and
to the use of the English language for proceedings in the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak or in a subordinate court in the State of Sabah or Sarawak, or for such proceedings in the Federal Court or the
Court of Appeal as are mentioned in Clause (4); and
to the use of the English language in the State of Sabah or Sarawak in the Legislative Assembly or for other official purposes (including the official purposes of the
Federal Government).
Without prejudice to Clause (1), no such Act of Parliament as is there mentioned shall come into operation as regards the use of the English language for proceedings in the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak or for such proceedings in the Federal Court or the
Court of Appeal as are mentioned in Clause (4), until the Act or the relevant provision of it has been approved by enactments of the Legislatures of the States of Sabah and Sarawak; and no such
Act shall come into operation as regards the use of the English 157
Art. 160b
This new Article was inserted by Act A1130, section 12, in force from 28-09-2001, to enable the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to prescribe the national language translation of the
Federal Constitution to be the authoritative text.