MA63: Focus on what have been agreed to, says minister

KUCHING: There should be no further divergent remarks but focus on what Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has agreed with the chief ministers of Sabah and Sarawak on the federal government’s readiness to restore the rights of the two states under the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63), said Parti Pesaka Bersatu Bumiputera (PBB) Youth chief Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

Fadillah, who is also Works Minister, said this was important so that all parties could move forward.

He said what was discussed by Sarawak’s fifth Chief Minister, the Tan Sri Adenan Satem with the federal leadership previously was being continued by current Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Dr Abang Johari Tun Openg.

“We still remain in Malaysia, but at the same time what we want is that what is enshrined in the agreement and provided for under the constitution is returned to Sarawak, that is all,” he told reporters after launching the “We Are Smart Consumers” programme at the PBB Service Centre in Samariang yesterday.

He said this in commenting on the statement by the Prime Minister, who is also Umno president on Saturday, at the close of this year’s Umno general assembly in the federal capital on the readiness of the federal government to sit down and talk to restore the rights of the two states under MA63.

According to Fadillah, the rights were eroded under a previous administration which resorted to use of the draconian Internal Security Act (which has been repealed under the leadership of Najib) against anyone who raised issues related to MA63.