High Court postpones decision on striking out suit to nullify MA63

Counsel for the plaintiffs Peli Aron (centre) speaking to reporters outside the courtroom following the postponement of the High Court's decision. - ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star

KUCHING: The High Court here has postponed its decision on whether or not to strike out a suit filed by 11 Sarawakians to nullify the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

Judicial Commissioner Alexander Siew was due to deliver his decision on Friday (May 5), but that has now been deferred to a later date to be fixed by the court.

Counsel for the plaintiffs Peli Aron said they were only informed of the postponement on Friday morning.

"Nobody was able to explain to us the reason for the postponement.

"Naturally we are disappointed because the suit was filed to bring to light the issue of MA63," he told reporters outside the courtroom.

Peli said this was the third time the decision had been postponed.

"We leave it to the court to fix another date and hope there will be no further delay," he added.

The plaintiffs, who filed the suit in November 2021, want the court to determine issues surrounding the formation of Malaysia and the validity of MA63.

They named the Malaysian, British and Sarawak governments as defendants.

Last April, the state government filed an application to strike out the suit on the grounds that the High Court had no jurisdiction to enforce or nullify an international treaty like MA63.