KUALA LUMPUR – The federal government sees no strong reason to disclose reports from the ongoing Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) discussions yet, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili.
He said it is premature to disclose anything at present as the discussions are still at the negotiation stage.
“The reports are quite technical and the documents are confidential. They should be protected, as provided by the law.
“However, the government will make announcements from time to time when we reach a common solution on the matter,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
He was replying to a question from Sri Aman MP Datuk Masir Kujat during his winding-up speech on the motion of thanks to the Agong’s address.
Ongkili said the government’s Special Council on MA63 (MKMA63) has agreed to settle issues pertaining to MA63, subject to current regulations and laws.
“Under the previous government (ruled by Pakatan Harapan and Warisan), several MA63 issues were discussed and only agreed to in principle.
“But to resolve the claims, there needs to be further action involving policy changes and amendments to laws, both at the federal and state levels, before they are implemented,” he said.
For instance, Ongkili said, the reassignment of administrative powers of the Sipadan and Ligitan islands to the Sabah government done by the present federal government is more than what was done by the Pakatan Harapan-Warisan government when it was in power.
“During the MKMA63 meeting earlier this year on April 13, we agreed to revoke the Protected Areas and Protected Places (KLTL) order on the two islands, thus giving full authority and control over to the Sabah government under the Sabah Parks Enactment 1984.
“The PH-Warisan government claims it had settled the matter during its time, when in fact, all it did was revoke the fee order, but authority and control over the two islands were still under the federal government’s purview,” he said.
Ongkili further disclosed that the scope of focus of the four MKMA63 working committees on socio-economy, equal partnership, security and the Joint Consultative Committee on Special Grants under Article 112D of the federal constitution, is wide and comprehensive.
He added that, under the PH government, several matters were not addressed.
These include issues on security, illegal immigrants and other immigration-related matters, socio and infrastructure development, a review of financial and annual grants under Article 112D, and federal refunds of the 40% income and revenues from Sabah.
“These matters have far reaching impacts on Sabah and Sarawak rights, and even revenues.” – The Vibes, September 24, 2021
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