MP backs Sarawak leaders on MA63
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah and Sarawak leaders should respect and honour Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), said Putatan MP, Datuk Dr Marcus Makin Mojigoh.
He also said he stood by what the Sarawakian leader Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg had said about MA63.
“I stand to agree with what Sarawak leaders have to say (about MA63),” he told The Borneo Post when he was asked to comment on parliament speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin's conduct of challenging Abang Johari to a debate over MA63.
Dr Marcus of Upko also said he had his own version of MA63 and that he did not have to agree with Pandikar.
“To me that is his personal views,” said Dr Marcus, referring to Pandikar's opinion that MA63 was not important.
He also said he had not read the speaker's book ‘Berpisah Tiada' which was launched on Monday.
Kapayan assemblyman Dr Edwin Bosi when contacted also said he had yet to read the book.
“Frankly, I don't see any point in commenting about him as he is sliding down the political ladder,” said Dr Edwin who recently joined Parti Anak Negeri.
He went on to say that Pandikar's luck was already gone and that the speaker had failed to stamp his legacy as a parliament speaker.
“He is water under the bridge. That is what I think of him,” said Dr Edwin.
PKR Sabah chairperson Christina Liew meanwhile opined that Pandikar's book and recent antics were cheap publicity stunts.
“No, I have not read the book yet,” said Christina when asked.
She also said Pandikar should stand on neutral ground as a parliamentary speaker, and agreed with Penampang MP Darell Leiking the deputy president of Parti Warisan Sabah that Pandikar was trying to be a referee and a player.
“His move represents political. As a speaker, he should not be,” she said.
Meanwhile, Darell when contacted also said he had yet to read the book.
“Macam every MP malu to buy because it was being sold in front of parliament...I did not want to buy, although I was curious as well,” he said.
“Pandikar should be impartial since he resigned as the Umno division head when he became speaker.
“But now, he is obviously political,” said Darell.
He then went on to share the ‘Office and Role of Speaker' website with The Borneo Post which linked to the UK parliament where it was stated that: ‘Speakers must be politically impartial. Therefore, on election the new Speaker must resign from their political party and remain separate from political issues even in retirement. However, the Speaker will deal with their constituents' problems like a normal MP.'
Darell opined that Pandikar had gone against the wishes of Sabahans and Sarawakians by his comments.
He also lamented the lack of critics from among the BN leaders against the comments concerning MA63 made by Pandikar, particularly from Upko.
He also shared that there should be no compromise to the implementation of MA63.
“We need to ensure what was agreed is fully implemented. The same agenda and obligations are set out in Warisan's party constitution as well -- every member must implement MA63,” he said.
He then called on Pandikar to face Zainnal Ajamain “because Zainnal knows his stuff and Pandikar will be finished by him.
“Pandikar should face him as Zainnal knows his stuff in and out,” said Darell.
Zainnal is the author of ‘The Queen's Obligation'.