KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) is unhappy with Umno’s Datuk Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz (pic) for asking Sabah and Sarawak to give up its immigration rights in order to become equal partners in the federation.
PBS information chief Datuk Jahid Jahim said Nazri was just showing his ignorance and "annoying self" when commenting on Sabah and Sarawak’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
Chiding Nazri, he said Sabah had long wanted the federal government to restore state rights as stated under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Nazri seemed to be totally ignorant of the contents of MA63 and what they meant for Sabahans and Sarawakians, said Jahid, who is Tamparuli assemblyman.
“If a former senior federal cabinet member like him does not even know the contents of the MA63, then how can we expect the others to understand the significance of MA63 and its contents,” he said in a statement.
Jahid said there was a serious and urgent need for the Education Ministry to expand the learning syllabus in schools to include an “A to Z” on MA63 and the formation of Malaysia.
Nazri had commented that he supported giving equal status to Sabah and Sarawak, but felt that they should drop the immigration requirements for people of the Peninsula to enter the two states.
“When there is no more immigration restriction, then only are we equal,” Nazri was reported as saying.
Jahid said Nazri's remark hurt the feelings of the people in Sabah and Sarawak.
“The state’s immigration powers or safeguards were agreed upon during the negotiation for the formation of Malaysia. Any remarks from anybody to dispute this is uncalled for and must be totally condemned,” added Jahid.
On Sunday (Sept 16), Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had announced that Sabah and Sarawak would be restored as equal partners with the federation, as enshrined in MA63.
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