No issue that cannot be resolved — DPM
KUCHING: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi believes that there is no issue that cannot be resolved between the federal and state governments when it comes to Sarawak’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 ( MA63).
Zahid, who is a lso Home Minister, reiterated Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s assurance made early this year on his readiness to talk and negotiate in coming up with a win-win situation for both the state and federal governments.
“I think the federal government, as stated by the Prime Minister that ( in) matters that can be negotiated, will open the doors for negotiation when the information from a few documents is received from the research done by the taskforce,” he said in a press conference during his Gawai Dayak visit to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas’ house here yesterday.
Among those there were Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and wife Datin Amar Dato Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, Uggah’s wife Datin Amar Doreen Mayang, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Tourism, Arts, Culture Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and former deputy chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu.
Abang Johari had on last Saturday revealed that Sarawak would send a team of lawyers to London to search for and study any references related to the state’s rights. According to him, the team would be led by Assistant Minister of Law, Federal- State Relationships and Project Monitoring Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali.
A source had told The Borneo Post that State Legal Counsel Datuk JC Fong, State Legislative Assembly ( DUN) Deputy Speaker Datuk Gerawat Gala and lawyers from the State Attorney General’s Chambers will form Sarawak’s legal team that would be heading to London to study the state’s rights under MA63.
In acknowledging that it is the right of Sarawak and Sabah to look at the legal aspect that ensured the MA63, Zahid said the federal government would receive all the feedback received from the Sarawak government through the efforts made with an open mind and heart.
Meanwhile, when asked on the points of reference that the legal team from Sarawak would be looking at, Abang Johari said: “I will tell you later.”
Najib had previously stated that he and Abang Johari were committed to correcting any anomaly in MA63 for Sarawak.
KUCHING: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has urged Democratic Action Party (DAP) not to make any speculation that the party may be banned and its logo disallowed in the upcoming general election.
Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said he had a discussion with the Registrar of Societies ( ROS) director-general Datuk Mohamad Razin Abdullah but was yet to receive any comments to make a decision on the appeal made by DAP.
“I hope DAP will not make any speculation on it, not to mention when there are those who perceived that there is an effort by ROS to deregister DAP. On behalf of the Home Ministry that oversees RoS, I hope there will be no speculation until the RoS has made their official decision.
“The official comments and decision by RoS will be announced and they will give explanation on the details of issues that were raised,” he said at a press conference during his Gawai Dayak visit to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas’ house here yesterday.
Zahid was commenting on DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang’s statement yesterday, telling his party members to prepare for the possibility that the party might be banned and its logo disallowed in the upcoming general election.
Lim’s statement came following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s press secretary Datuk Seri Tengku Sariffuddin’s claim last Saturday that the DAP did not know if it would be allowed to use its party logo in the upcoming general election as the RoS did not recognise the validity of the party’s central executive committee (CEC).
Zahid acknowledged that there was an application from DAP leadership, particularly from the party’s secretary- general Lim Guan Eng who requested for the party CEC elected in the party’s last election be accepted as valid office bearers.
“I have discussed with the ROS director- general but I have not received comments to finalise on the decision of the appeal made by DAP. This matter had been studied in detail by RoS and they didn’t only study in terms of legal aspect, but also the party’s constitution. RoS’ role is to look after the interests of any organisation that is registered under them.
“Therefore, the constitution and available laws in any parties registered under RoS will be followed fully.”
Asked when the RoS will announce its decision, Zahid he will meet with the RoS next week with the hope that they will come up with a written report to him.
When asked if there is any possibility for DAP to be deregistered, Zahid said he didn’t see any effort to deregister the party or vice versa.
“It depends on the legal and constitution of the party. In my opinion, if the rules are not followed by DAP leadership who made the party’s constitution, then RoS can make a professional decision as stated in their constitution.”
Among those at the Gawai Dayak visit were Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and wife Datin Amar Dato Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, Uggah’s wife Datin Amar Doreen Mayang, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Tourism, Arts, Culture Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and former Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang.