KUCHING – Former Dewan Rakyat speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia’s proposal to jettison the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) in lieu of a new deal is misplaced, said Selangau MP Baru Bian.
Speaking to The Vibes, Baru said that the proposal is also irrelevant, and that he concurs with Parti Bersatu Sabah president Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili, who slammed Pandikar’s suggestion that Sabah and Sarawak should move on from MA63 and lobby for a new deal from Putrajaya.
“We cannot just abandon MA63 and sign a new agreement. To do so would mean a betrayal of the aspirations of our forefathers, who based on this ‘foundation’ agreed to form Malaysia.
“MA63 is an international treaty whose contents are clearly defined and fortified by the Inter-Governmental Committee report,” said Baru, who is also the Ba Kelalan assemblyman.
Ongkili had prior to this emphasised that Pandikar’s idea would not work as without the MA63, there would be no reference point in the fight to restore equal status to the Bornean states.
However, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan said he was glad to have Pandikar on his side regarding a new Malaysia agreement to replace MA63.
Yesterday, Pandikar, who is also the United Sabah National Organisation president, had told online portal Free Malaysia Today that he felt Sabah and Sarawak leaders are still clinging to an old mentality by constantly harping on MA63. – The Vibes, September 19, 2021
