Non-implementation of MA63 hinders Sabah’s progress
KOTA KINABALU: The full implementation of the terms contained in Malaysia Agreement (MA63) that was signed 55 years ago is the key to Sabah's progress.
Without the implementation of MA63, the development progress will continue to be curtailed by the lack of funds, said former Petagas assemblyman Datuk James Ligunjang.
He said one key ingredient to Sabah in agreeing to form the Federation of Malaysia in 1963 and constitutionally provided was the expressed condition that 40% of the federal revenue derived from Sabah must be returned to Sabah to assist the State in facilitating its development programmes to have parity with Malaya in all fields of endeavour.
“This key provision was never fully implemented causing the States of Sabah and Sarawak to lag behind in all fields of development and lagging behind from the states in Malaya. The withholding of the 40% derived from Sabah for the last 55 years had a devastating impact on the development progress in Sabah!” he said in a letter to editor yesterday
According to Ligunjang, Sabah and Sarawak in 1963 were very much on the same platform with Brunei in terms of development. It was Tunku Abdul Rahman's promise to the people of Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei that they will see faster progress by agreeing to form the Federation of Malaya as opposed to stand on their own.
The people of Sabah and Sarawak put faith in Tunku's words but Brunei opted out instead. The people of Sabah and Sarawak were euphoric on the dreams of Malaysia with fervent hopes that their States will progress in leaps and bounds with tinged of sadness that Brunei will be left behind in all fields of endeavour and their standard of living will be far lower than Sabah and Sarawak. Unfortunately, it's the opposite that happened. Brunei has grown in leaps and bounds to become the 10th richest nation in the world while Sabah and Sarawak sulk in depravity mired with poverty and low standard of living.
“How could this happened when Sabah and Sarawak are far richer in terms of resources compared Brunei? The answer is simple, the Malaysia Agreement 1963 was never sincerely implemented by Malaya which controls the federal government from the moment the agreement was inked until today. The other is the failure of the people of Sabah and Sarawak to forcefully demand the implementation of the terms contained in MA63,” he said.
Ligunjang said the constant political rivalry among leaders in Sabah and Sarawak which had devastating effect on unity allowed political parties from Malaya to establish foothold in the political process in Sabah and Sarawak which have cumulative effect in regression of efforts to implement MA63.
“You can't and will never be able to negotiate the implementation of MA63 if the political leaders and the people of Sabah and Sarawak sit behind their political leaders in parties from Malaya.
“To those joining political parties from Malaya and going by experience will be greatly handicapped to pursue MA63.
“It's a lesson we never get to learn to the detriment of our future generations,” he added.