KUCHING: The Pakatan Harapan-led Federal Government acknowledges that Sarawak and Sabah are equal partners with peninsular Malaysia, according to Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chief parliamentary whip said this was conveyed by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad during a courtesy call by GPS MPs in Putrajaya on Thursday (Sept 13).
"He (Dr Mahathir) mentioned that the current government's view is that there are three regions (in Malaysia) - the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak.
"This is very important for us in Sarawak," Fadillah told reporters, after leading GPS MPs to pay a courtesy call on Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly complex here on Friday (Sept 14).
In recent years, Sarawak has been pushing for recognition of its status as one of three equal partners in (the formation of) Malaysia, instead of just one of 13 states.
Fadillah said this matter would be further discussed and fine-tuned, particularly with regards to legislation by the special Cabinet committee on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Asked who would represent Sarawak in the committee, he said Abang Johari had been invited to be one of its members.
However, he did not know when the committee would meet.
Fadillah also said the Prime Minister agreed that the oil royalty issue and the return of Sarawak's rights should be resolved.
"On royalty, there are reservations in terms of the 20% that they promised, as there might be constraints in implementing it.
"We briefed the Chief Minister about this and we will have our own strategy to handle the matter," he said.
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