PUTRAJAYA – It is a sign of disrespect for the original document that founded Malaysia – the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) – and unthinkable for patriotic Malaysians to abandon it in favour of a new deal, said Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili.
The minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) said in a statement today that the MA63 is a sacred document that allowed the formation of the Federation of Malaysia and any suggestions for a new agreement are short-sighted and will not strengthen the country.
“No MA63, there will be no Malaysia. Besides, with the recent constitutional amendment unanimously passed by Parliament in December 2021, MA63 is part of the federal constitution,” said the Kota Marudu MP.
“The proposal for a new Malaysia Agreement, as suggested by Tok Mat (Umno’s deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan) and supported by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan is simply short-sighted and would not strengthen Malaysia.”
Ongkili then raised the question of whether or not the new agreement will strengthen MA63 or seek to abandon it.
Based on his observation, he believes that the proponents of the new agreement are “misguided” in thinking of deserting MA63 in favour of a new deal.
He also concurred with Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah in describing the new proposal as a “crazy idea,” stating that no one should change the fundamental agreement that led to the formation of Malaysia.
Ongkili stressed that to desert MA63 is to abandon the Federation of Malaysia.
“It is tantamount to breaking the bonds that bind and unite the Malaya Federation, North Borneo and Sarawak in 1963. Thereby, returning us to our original status and restarting a new search again for our respective state identity,” he said.
“Is that what Malaysians want? Be careful in what we expound in our search for our true nation-building. Take full caution when uttering thoughtless suggestions that will weaken what our forefathers and all of us have achieved in nation-building.
“We must build for strength, peace, and solidarity. We must avoid playing with semantics and politics.” – The Vibes, July 6, 2022
