Sabah should be of equal status with Malaya — Warisan

SEMPORNA: Warisan expects the Malaysia Agreement 1963 or MA63 topic to be the talk of the town now in Semporna after a “Bicara Rakyat” programme by Parti Warisan Sabah on Sunday.

Although much talked about in the west coast of Sabah, the reverse can be said of the east coast, prompting Warisan to fire up the people into taking up the party’s MA63 cause.

Launched by Warisan deputy president Darell Leiking, he stressed upon the importance of Sabah being regarded as a partner in the formation of the Malaysia as stipulated in the agreement and not merely as one of 13 states.

“Sabah should be of equal status with Malaya. We should be respected and not be used in any way merely for political interest or convenience,” he told the crowd of more than 1,000 who gathered at Jalan Bubul.

“This is the only way for our next generation of leaders to protect our State against Malayanisation,” he asserted.

Leiking said all provisions pertaining to Sabah under MA63 must be fulfilled, which among them is the 40% special entitlement calculated from 1963 to date, possibly with a quantum amounting to some RM1 trillion. This does not include the annual budget allocated by the federal government to Sabah.

He said when the idea of Malaysia was first raised, people in the east coast of the then North Borneo were more receptive of the proposal compared to their counterparts in the west coast.

“It is therefore right and apt that the east coast demands what is due to Sabah under the MA63.

“It is time for the east and west coasts to combine forces and come together as one in our pursuit of the MA63 provisions for Sabah,” he said.

The programme organised by Warisan’s Wira chief, Mohd Azis Jamman and the party’s information bureau, included a briefing by MA63 activist, Michael Goviind.

Earlier on Sunday, Leiking visited the site of a recent fire in Kampung Panji where seven houses were destroyed. He later distributed aid relief to the victims.