Special committee to study Malaysia Agreement 1963

Yii holding up the written answer from Liew in Parliament.

KUCHING: The Federal Cabinet has agreed to set up a special committee on the Malaysia Agreement 1963, which is one of Pakatan Harapan’s 100-day promises.

Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii said this was revealed by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law) Datuk Liew Vui Keong in a written reply to his parliamentary question.

Based on the answer, Yii said the special committee would comprise representatives from peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak who have expertise in the Malaysia Agreement.

He said the committee has been tasked to produce a detailed report on the matter within six months from its formation, which will then be presented to the government.

“This is an important step in regaining our rights under the Malaysia Agreement and a sign that the new Pakatan Federal Government has not only fulfilled another 100-day promise but also shows sincerity and political will in recognising our special status and rights under the framework of the Malaysia Agreement,” Yii said in a statement yesterday.

He said he would continue to follow up on the matter and ensure Sarawak’s interests were protected.

“One of the things I will be pushing for is for Sarawak to regain our rightful status as equal partners in the Federation.

“I believe the Pakatan Government has shown great sincerity in honouring the promises that were made, including reiterating our stand to return 20% oil royalty to Sarawak,” he added.

The special committee will study and propose measures on the status of the Malaysia Agreement in the context of current legislation, efforts to improve public understanding of the Malaysia Agreement through the education system and implementation of the concept of federalism across the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak.

It will also look into the rights of Sabah and Sarawak to natural resources, including oil and gas; administrative matters that can be delegated to the states; the amount of allocation within the rights of Sabah and Sarawak; and amendment to Article 1 of the Federal Constitution.

When the report is presented and approved by the Cabinet, the committee will then be responsible for monitoring the progress of implementation of the proposals in its report.