KOTA KINABALU: The passing of the bill to amend the Federal Constitution relevant to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) has paved the way to realise Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) President, Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili’s relentless effort to get what is due to Sabah and Sarawak as enshrined in the nearly six-decade overdue agreement.
PBS Youth Chief, Christoper Mandut said that Ongkili’s nature of “finishing what he started” was the main drive to ensure that the demands and rights of Sabahans and Sarawakians are restored and honoured.
“The President is a very persistent person, and after heading the Sabah and Sarawak Affairs portfolio under the Prime Minister’s Department for nearly two years, he gets to take a hands-on approach on handling issues pertaining to MA63.
“Coupled with his vast experience as a federal minister, good collaboration and rapport with colleagues in the (Federal) Cabinet, he was able to voice out views and issues that are very dear to us in Sabah and Sarawak, from the people’s wellbeing to development,” said Mandut.
He also congratulated Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Laws), Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar for his efforts in ensuring the bill was passed unanimously at the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday.
“I believe this is the beginning of many good things to come. The passing of this bill is indeed a recognition of Sabah and Sarawak’s special rights and demands when it formed Malaysia together with Malaya 58 years ago,” Mandut added.
The amendments to the Federal Constitution would see MA63 placed on an equal footing with the Federal Agreement of 1948 and 1957 as it detailed out the stage of the formation and the direction of Malaysia from the Federation of Malaya 1948 and to the direction of the Federation of Malaya 1957 when the Federal Constitution was being adopted in 1957.
According to Wan Junaidi, the amendment meant placing MA63 in the Federal Constitution in order to become the real Malaysia in the context of the three agreements – Federal Agreement 1948, Federal Agreement 1957, and the MA63, thus giving dignity to Sabah and Sarawak as being part of Malaysia.
