KUCHING: Pakatan Harapan will fully implement the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and devolve certain powers to Sabah and Sarawak should it come into power after GE15, says its chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said Pakatan was offering participatory democracy and a just solution for all regions in Malaysia, particularly to the two Borneo states.
"The Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional manifestos do not offer due recognition to Sabah and Sarawak.
"Our concern is to rebuild this hope in Malaysia and to ensure that MA63 is passed by our effective efforts to implement it," he said when announcing Pakatan's offer for Sarawak here on Saturday (Nov 12).
Anwar said Pakatan also pledged devolution of powers in education, health and basic infrastructure to Sarawak and Sabah.
In Malaysia's federal system, he said, state authorities should be given due recognition and respect to exercise certain powers within their jurisdiction.
"There are peculiar circumstances in education, health and rural infrastructure that warrants us to recognise the role of states.
"Having said that, we will not compromise on the issue of good governance because that is central to our policy," he said.
Anwar appealed to Sarawakians to accept Pakatan's offer and give the coalition's candidates a strong voice to work together at state and federal levels.
He claimed that Pakatan was currently leading the race for Putrajaya in Peninsular Malaysia and that support from Sarawak and Sabah was vital in the formation of a strong Federal Government.
Asked if Pakatan would invite Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to be part of the federal government should it win GE15, Anwar said the question of talks with the state-based ruling coalition would only arise after election night on Nov 19.
"We want strong representation from Sabah and Sarawak in Pakatan in order to have the same views and policies. We will not close the door on talks (with GPS) but this should only take place after the election.
"For now let us work hard for Pakatan candidates to win, that is more important," he said.
Pakatan is contesting in 30 of Sarawak's 31 parliamentary seats, with PKR fielding 16 candidates, DAP eight and Amanah six.
After his brief visit to Kuching, Anwar is scheduled to go to Sabah to shore up Pakatan's chances in the state.
He is scheduled to fly to the east coast Tawau district on Saturday afternoon and speak at a ceramah at Merotai town to canvass for votes for incumbent Tawau MP Datuk Christina Liew and Noraini Abdul Ghapur who is Pakatan's candidate for the neighbouring Kalabakan seat.
After that, Anwar will head to Kota Kinabalu where he will campaign for Putatan incumbent Awang Husaini Sahari and Sepanggar candidate Mustapha Sakmud.
Both seats are located within the state capital.
Pakatan is vying for 24 seats in Sabah, of which 10 candidates are from PKR, seven from DAP, five from Upko and one each from Amanah and Muda.
