KOTA KINABALU – There is no need to offer the deputy prime minister post to Sabah or Sarawak as the states want full implementation of the terms in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), Warisan information chief Datuk Azis Jamman said today.
The post had been offered to Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal twice by former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, but Shafie declined.
Azis said Shafie did not believe having the post would necessarily be beneficial for Sabah.
“Sabahans and Sarawakians are not stupid. We don’t need this election candy. It’s promise after promise but no progress is made regarding state rights,” Aziz said in a statement here today.
He said the new federal government should instead take immediate action to fully implement MA63.
“There should be no more committees, no more waiting for the government’s financial situation to get better.
“All we want are justice and fairness for Sabah and Sarawak and that is the fulfilment of the MA63 deal without delay,” he said of the agreement under which Malaysia was formed in 1963 by the federation of Malay states on the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak.
Towards this end, Azis reminded Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi of his call for the immediate full implementation of MA63 during the Kimanis by-election in 2020, and the 20% oil royalty pledge made by the Pakatan Harapan in the 14 general election.
While touring Sabah yesterday ahead of GE15, Zahid said he had pushed for the promise to have three deputy prime ministers – one each from Sabah and Sarawak – to be included in BN’s election manifesto.
Among the terms yet to be fulfilled by the federal government on the MA63 is the 40% revenue entitlement to Sabah. – The Vibes, October 24, 2022
