THE Malaysia Agreement (MA63) is the deal that made the merger between the Federation of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore to form Malaysia possible - 62 years ago on September 16, 1963.
Till today, there are those in Sabah and Sarawak who feel that certain promises made in MA63 and related documents like the 18-point agreement and the Inter-Government Committee (IGC) report have not been honoured.
This has led to ongoing discussions about their rights and autonomy within the federation.
While the agreement aimed for equal partnership, over time, centralisation measures by the federal government led to a perceived erosion of these rights, particularly in areas like education, development spending, and revenue sharing.
In essence, MA63 is not just a historical document but a living framework that continues to shape the political, economic, and social landscape of Sabah and Sarawak within Malaysia.
Before the unity government came into power, the promises in MA63 were ignored, but in just a year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's administration has successfully resolved numerous issues related to MA63.
On Dec 14, 2021, the Dewan Rakyat approved the Constitutional Amendment Bill (RUU) relating to the MA63.
The first item approved by the federal government was to restore Sarawak's status as an equal partner in the formation of Malaysia in 1963 through the amendment of Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution in 2021.
The second was the amendment of Article 160 of the Federal Constitution, specifically the amendment to the interpretation of the expression "Federation" (in the Federal Constitution), which incorporated MA63 and its annexes as part of the Federal Constitution.
Recognition of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners
The amendments to Article 160, along with other constitutional changes, aim to recognise Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners in Malaysia and potentially grant the two states greater autonomy in areas like immigration, natural resources, and judicial appointments.
Since the amendment was approved, many demands have been made by Sabah and Sarawak to the Federal Government for its joint commitment in making MA63 a success.
Some of the most important provisions of MA63 concern autonomy, resource control, and fiscal rights for Sabah and Sarawak.
These provisions are designed to safeguard the distinct interests of the two states within the Malaysian federation.
The MA63 Implementation Action Council (MTPMA63) was established and is chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
Anwar had repeatedly called for stronger ties between the federal government, Sabah and Sarawak, grounded in mutual trust and aimed at advancing the states' development and protecting the welfare of its people.
Nine claims related to MA63 resolved
Recently, Fadillah pointed out that the unity government had successfully resolved nine claims related to MA63.
"Among the issues resolved include the handover of power to regulate gas supply in Sabah; the administration of the judiciary in Sabah and Sarawak as well as the preparation of special guidelines for the resumption of land reserved for federal purposes in Sabah and Sarawak,” said the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation.
"The unity government had also finalised the transfer of electricity regulatory powers to the Sabah government, and proposed amendments to Article 95B of the Federal Constitution concerning legislative power modifications for Sabah and Sarawak," he said.
He also assured that negotiations between the federal and state governments regarding the MA63 can be resolved amicably without the need to bring the matter to court for legal interpretation.
According to Sarawak's Deputy Minister of Law, Malaysia Agreement and State-Federal Relations, Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, there are now only eight claims related to the MA63 which remain the focus of ongoing negotiations between the Sarawak and federal governments.
The eight items currently under negotiation, she said, include a proposal to increase the number of members of Parliament from Sabah and Sarawak in the Dewan Rakyat and the development of the Sabah-Sarawak-Kalimantan border area.
Hasidah also confirmed that nine claims previously under negotiation have been resolved as of May 2025.
With strong cooperation between the Madani government and state administrations, Fadillah said the legal interpretation of the agreement can be finalised as outlined in the Federal Constitution.
"Under Anwar’s leadership, more matters have been decided upon within these two years and the MTPMA63 meetings have been crucial in enabling the government to plan pragmatic follow-up actions regarding the status of unresolved MA63 demands.
"Rest assured that other matters or claims related to MA63 which are still pending will continue to be discussed and monitored by the Technical Committee under MTPMA63," assured Fadillah. – June 18, 2025
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