KOTA KINABALU – Sabah and Sarawak parliamentarians have backed the idea to form a Borneo caucus for political cooperation to unite as one voice in strengthening the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and supporting the prime minister of the day.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili said this was among the issues raised during a special briefing with the MPs, apart from the proposal to return the 35% parliamentary seat allocation to East Malaysia.
“The Sabah and Sarawak MPs fully supported the idea that we should have a common voice to safeguard and to implement the tenets and cornerstones of MA63, and a say on who should be the next prime minister,” he said in a statement here today.
Ongkili said the Borneo MPs also touched on the possibility of institutionalising the Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Division to offer a permanent framework to implement its role.
He said they also proposed the formation of a select parliamentary committee to pursue the recommendations of the Special Council on MA63, which has been given a green light by the cabinet and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
“We are satisfied with the reactions and feedback we received from the MPs, which came from both the government and opposition blocs. It was an interactive session.
“The next step will be to formalise political cooperation and potential working relationship among the Borneo parties.
“The issues raised are of public interest and are close to our hearts. This is the beginning and a history in the making … the Borneon MPs want to make a difference on the direction and focus on Malaysian national politics,” he said.
Also present at the briefing was Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar who spoke on legalities and the way forward on the calls to increase the parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak, among other issues. – The Vibes, October 4, 2022
