KOTA KINABALU – It is time for the federal government to come clean and make the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) report public, said the Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH) leadership council in a joint statement today.
The council said that enough has been done to whittle away the rights of Sabah and Sarawak over the years.
“This is an opportunity for the whole nation to appreciate and understand the significance and importance of MA63.
“Historical and factual misinterpretation of MA63 has been one of the reasons why the full implementation of MA63 is still a challenge, even after 58 years of the formation of Malaysia,” said the statement jointly released by PKR’s Datuk Christina Liew, Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau of United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation, DAP’s Datuk Frankie Poon Ming Fung, and Amanah’s Lahirul Latigu.
Sabah PH leaders said under the previous PH government, discussion of MA63 matters was transparent, and the composition of the committees formed were also made known to the public.
“Regretfully, much cannot be said with the current federal government and the previous Perikatan Nasional government. The public has no knowledge of the existence and composition of any committees and there is no detailed explanation or transparency on the efforts made to continue the implementation of MA63.
“Now, they want to bury the final report under the Official Secrets Act (OSA). What is the government afraid of? The MA63 has been the most openly discussed matter in the country,” the statement said.
Under the PH government, a total of 17 out of 21 matters tabled by the Sabah and Sarawak governments at the cabinet special committee meeting to review the implementation of MA63 have been jointly approved.
The remaining four issues pertain to oil royalty and petroleum cash payments, oil minerals and oil fields, the Territorial Sea Act 2012 (Act 750), and state rights over the continental shelf.
The council also pointed out that the minister in charge of Sabah and Sarawak affairs, Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili should ensure that the MA63 is fully respected and implemented.
“It is important that every stakeholder understands and supports the MA63. Its successful fulfilment will be a catalyst to drive Malaysia forward with its people united to guide its leaders in ensuring the success of this nation as our forefathers had envisioned when they signed the agreement in 1963,” they added.
Warisan slams Ongkili
Meanwhile, Warisan slammed Ongkili for his assertion to keep the discussion on MA63 confidential, saying that it is contrary to the spirit of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the government and the opposition recently.
Warisan Wirawati chief Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis said in a statement today that Ongkili’s statement implicitly told the public that Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s government has no intention to honour the MA63.
She said whether Warisan is part of the MoU or not, Ongkili remains bound to disclose the progress of the four unresolved issues, owing to its nature which involves public interest, and the fact that it has been annexed in the agreement.
“Since Ongkili mentioned that the issues are classified under the OSA, Warisan is intending to bear the ineffectiveness and inefficiency on the part of Ismail Sabri’s government over the matter (four unresolved issues) by sitting in a bipartisan meeting,” she said.
Isnaraissah also took Ongkili to task for stating that Warisan Plus had “merely managed to revoke the fee order over the Sipadan and Ligitan islands”, and it was the current government that reassigned the administrative powers of the islands.
She said it was very unbecoming for Ongkili to belittle the solid groundwork to restore MA63 that rose from the hard work of passionate Sabahans.
“While what Ongkili said was half the truth, the ultimate fact remained that it was only through Warisan Plus that Sabahans finally broke past the wall that had imprisoned the MA63 for decades.
“Instead of belittling Warisan Plus and calling our achievements ‘merely principles’, Ongkili should be grateful that the infamous Sheraton Move had not only allowed him to bask in glory but continue to complete the greatest challenge that failed many Sabahan leaders before us.
“But strangely some 18 months after the Sheraton Move, not much has been done to date,” Isnaraissah said. – The Vibes, September 25, 2021
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