KUALA LUMPUR – Sabah now has sovereign rights to manage diving haven Sipadan and Ligitan Islands off Semporna while Sarawak is given full control over its gas distribution, the Special Council on Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) decided.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili said the decisions were made during the two-hour meeting yesterday that was attended by the Chief Ministers of Sabah and Sarawak, Datuk Seri Hajiji Md Noor and Datuk Abang Johari Openg.
“The formal surrender of Sipadan and Ligitan Islands to Sabah means the state has full authority and control over the administration of both islands,” he said in a statement today.
“Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Sabah now has sovereign rights over the two islands.”
The islands are now under the supervision of Sabah Parks and protection of the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act 1959, which is a federal law. The piece of legislation points to the islands’ security control being under federal purview.
Ongkili said the full handover will be arranged between the Sabah, Sarawak Affairs Division (BHESS) and the federal National Security Council.
A similar handover was made in 2019 during the Warisan-led Sabah government. It is understood the two islands were already under the state management via Sabah Parks.
The Ligitan and Sipadan islands had been under the federal control due to the rampant incidents of kidnapping in Sabah’s east coast. The state has been calling for the return of the two islands since the Barisan Nasional era and was pushed when Warisan was in power.
However, Ongkili rubbished the PH achievements, saying much of the 17 demands met were not dealt with properly.
“The opposition, during the PH federal government, preached it had achieved something during its tenure. It claimed that of the 21 issues raised, 17 have been addressed. This is not true. The list had 21 issues and the committee went through 17 of them and agreed to address those.
“There were no ultimate decisions, except for at least two or four issues in Sabah, including forestry. It was mere commitment on the part of PH – but policies, laws and regulations were not amended or tabled at the state assembly or Parliament.
“We, through the special council, are now amending policies, rules and regulations. It is the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government that will deliver to the people resolutions and solutions.”
Ongkili, the federal minister overseeing Sabah and Sarawak affairs, had announced on April 7, the setting up of the joint review committee on MA63 to discuss financial demands.
He also heads the special council secretariat.
Sarawak’s authority on gas distribution
Ongkili said gas distribution will be handed over back to Sarawak under the Distribution of Gas Ordinance 2016 effective June 1.
He added that these were the two resolves in four months since the council met for the first time in December last year.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, who heads the Security Working Committee under the special council, presented the findings as well as ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed (Economy) and Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (Parliament and Law), who head the Socio-Economy and Equal Partner working committees, respectively.
“Under the Equal Partner Working Committee, two papers were tabled: one on the proposed constitutional amendments under Article 1 (2) and Article 160 (2) of the Federal Constitution, which deals with the definition of the federation.
“The legal team chaired by the Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun, with the Sabah and Sarawak attorneys-general, will conduct a series of meetings to hash out outstanding issues.
“Their second report is on judiciary issues in the high courts of Sabah and Sarawak. A committee has been formed on this to sit with the attorneys-general of Sabah and Sarawak,” Ongkili said.
Hamzah, in his report, highlighted the outcome of the meetings on undocumented migrants, the Palau community (boat people) and national registration.
Mustapa reported to the council on poverty data in Sabah and Sarawak, where a detailed report on infrastructure, especially on water, roads, digital and health, as well as requirements and proposed solutions were tabled.
The committee will also set up a database and monitoring centre for the 12th Malaysia Plan for Sabah and Sarawak in the Economic Planning Unit.
Ongkili said a joint consultative review committee was set up between his office and the Finance Ministry, which will be focused on reviewing special grants, including the 40% reimbursable provision for Sabah, as stipulated under Article 112 (D) of the federal constitution. – The Vibes, April 14, 2021
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