KOTA KINABALU: Sabah needs a renewed commitment to comprehensively resolving all matters related to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), says Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
The former deputy chief minister said that this commitment does not only apply to resolving the 16 outstanding issues, but also other matters that have not been brought to the fore, such as the state border and other revenue due to Sabah and Sarawak.
He said these matters fall under Article 1(3) of the Federal Constitution and Schedule 10, Article 8 of MA63 respectively.
Kitingan also said Sabahans were deeply concerned by an apparent lack of urgency and assertiveness in addressing MA63 issues, especially on the 40% net revenue rights, as well as oil and gas matters.
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"Public statements are insufficient and require a concrete and structured action plan within MA63 and the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report. Failure to act promptly risks prolonging these issues for another 63 years," he said in a statement on Wednesday (Feb 11).
"Immediate action is needed. For example, in implementing the court decision on the payment of the 40% net revenue rights as enshrined in Articles 112C and 112D of the Federal Constitution," he said.
Kitingan said these revenues were essential to finance Sabah's development and the basic needs of its people, including welfare, health and education; as well as enabling the state to optimally develop its economic and trade potential, basic infrastructure and human capital.
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He said Sabah would keep going around in circles like it had for the past 63 years without a new results-oriented attitude and regular guided meetings towards resolving MA63 matters.
His statement followed Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) (BHESS) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud’s statement that the government has developed an MA63 Implementation Status Dashboard through the BHESS portal.
Mustapha said the portal allows stakeholders to access accurate and real-time information and serves as a central platform to monitor MA63 implementation.
He also said that the Federal Government would continue to see that the implementation of MA63 is carried out prudently, inclusively and in the spirit of the Federation of Malaysia, to strengthen the position of Sabah and Sarawak in nation-building.
