Negotiations on MA63 to be done amicably — Uggah

KUCHING: The state government desires that all important constitutional issues be resolved amicably without resorting to legal action.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said this is important so as not to jeopardise the unity and good relationship between Sarawak and the federal government.

“These negotiations between the state and federal government should be conducted in accordance with the spirit and intent of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the Inter- Government Committee ( IGC) Report which was subscribed to by all parties leading to the formation of our beloved Malaysia,” he said when moving the Ministerial Motion on MA63 and matters related thereto at the State Legislative Assembly yesterday.

He said the state government had always maintained that Sabah and Sarawak should not be treated as one of the states in the Federation of Malaysia but as equal partners to the formation of Malaysia.

Uggah further said the federal government had agreed to have a financial review as required under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution of the special grants which the state is entitled under the Federal Constitution to receive from the federal government, and whether there should be any addition or substitution of the items of revenues assigned to the state under the 10th Schedule of the Federal Constitution.

He added that the federal government had also agreed that the state’s claims relating to loss of revenue from import duties and excise duty on petroleum products, claims relating to stamp duties for dealing in lands and other financial issues be considered in this financial review.

“This review is long overdue. The state government is now making preparations for this review,” he said.

These negotiations between the state and federal government should be conducted in accordance with the spirit and intent of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the Inter-Government Committee (IGC) Report which was subscribed to by all parties leading to the formation of our beloved Malaysia. Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, Deputy Chief Minister