KOTA KINABALU: As Sabah hosts the country’s 61st Malaysia Day today, Sabahans are confident that all rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) will be fulfilled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Sabah PKR chairman Datuk Mustapha Sakmud (pic) said at least 11 key issues had been resolved by the unity government.
He said Anwar remained committed towards resolving MA63 matters through discussions at the 1963 Malaysia Agreement Implementation Action Council Meeting.
Mustapha said with the 11 demands resolved, seven of them would be fulfilled within two years under Anwar.
These included the handover of electricity regulatory powers and land guidelines in Sabah and Sarawak, he said.
Mustapha noted that PKR was the only party in the country that had included in its constitution to uphold fair power-sharing between Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.
He said this was stipulated in the party’s constitution under Clause 5 of Article 5.8 by empowering political and economic fairness according to the MA63 framework.
“This makes PKR the only national party that clearly raises the importance of MA63 within the framework of the nation.
“Anwar as Prime Minister of Malaysia and also PKR president will definitely ensure that MA63 matters are settled as best as possible,” Mustapha said in his Malaysia Day message.
He said Malaysia Day was a sacred day celebrated every year to commemorate the formation of a federation with the merger of Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya on Sept 16, 1963.
“This historic event has also made Sept 16 a symbol of unity and harmony,” he said, adding that they also recognised the struggle and continuous efforts of past and present leaders to fulfil the rights of Sabah and Sarawak under MA63.
Under the ninth prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, three main demands were also resolved, such as handing over the administration of Sipadan Island and Ligitan Island to Sabah.
The handover regulatory authority over LPG to Sarawak was done under the eighth prime minister Datuk Seri Muhyiddin Yassin.
