‘SAPP will be vocal on MA63 issues in run-up to Sabah polls’

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) will voice out issues including the full implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), says its president Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee.

Yong said the party will pick up the pace on the issues before the state election due by October next year.

He said this was the resolution of the SAPP supreme council meeting on Saturday at its headquarters here.

“Some people think that fulfilling the 40% net revenue entitlement will complete the implementation of MA63, but in fact, it is only one of several unfulfilled rights of Sabah under MA63.

“MA63 includes political autonomy for the state with non-local parties respecting Sabah autonomy by not interfering in Sabah politics.

“Autonomy in a federal system like Malaysia means that the Sabah government and the Federal Government of the day respect and accept each other irrespective of political alignment at the federal level,” said the former chief minister.

Yong, who is a nominated assemblyman, said other than Borneonisation of the public service and judicial appointments, MA63 also includes the return of Labuan and the territorial seas of Sabah.

Labuan was surrendered to the Federal Government in 1984 whereas the territorial seas of Sabah were federalised by the Territorial Seas Act 2012, he said.

He said the SAPP is proposing that an amendment be made to the Sabah constitution.

He said Sabah should revert to the original 1963 title of the Head of State as Tuan Yang Terutama (TYT) Yang di-Pertua Negara and no longer the TYT Negeri.

“Another proposed amendment is that the posts of (state) Assistant Ministers be upgraded to Deputy Ministers.

“Not forgetting the core issues facing Sabah for many years, SAPP will also take up the old issues of land reforms so that native customary rights are truly and effectively respected.

“SAPP will also pursue the implementation of Sabah IC so that genuine Sabahans possess documentary recognition as Sabahans with rights and privileges to land, local licences, scholarships, government posts and welfare and financial assistance,” said Yong.

SAPP is part of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) ruling state government and the Opposition Perikatan Nasional at the federal level.