Consider British govt's views on MA63 issues — activist

KOTA KINABALU: Social activist Datuk Patrick Sindu suggested that the Steering Committee set up to review and coordinate the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) also invite the British government to give their views.

Sindu said the British government's views should be taken into account as they were among the parties involved in initiating the agreement.

“They (the British government) still have responsibilities. The Malaysia Agreement 1963 is an international treaty recognised by the United Nations (UN). The British government should give their advice,” he said when contacted by Bernama yesterday.

On Oct 10, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Liew View Keong announced the names of 16 members of the Steering Committee headed by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

In addition to Liew View Keong, the others on the committee are Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo.

Other members include Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, Works Minister Baru Bian, International Trade and Industry Minister Darell Leiking, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook, Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Bakar.

Also on the committee are Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Datuk David Wong Dak Wah, Attorney-General Tommy Thomas, Universiti Malaya Professor of Law Emeritus Prof Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi, Sabah Attorney- General Zaleha Rose Pandin and Sarawak Attorney-General Datuk Talat Mahmood Abdul Rashid

On the statement by the Sabah and Sarawak Chief Ministers who said they were on the same wavelength in the struggle to regain the rights and powers of the two states as enshrined in the MA63, Sindu said he was happy with the statement.

He said both leaders needed to be on the same page on the claim over the status of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners in the Federation of Malaysia as enshrined in the MA63.