Special cabinet committee to oversee enforcement of MA63
KUCHING: A special cabinet committee will be set up to oversee the enforcement of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 ( MA63).
De facto law minister Liew Vui Keong had told Parliament yesterday that the cabinet has agreed to the formation of the committee, which will comprise representatives from the Peninsula, Sabah, and Sarawak with expertise on the matter.
In a press statement yesterday, Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii said, “This is the answer to my parliamentary question to the Prime Minister over the special committee on the MA63, which is one of Pakatan Harapan’s 100- day promises.
“The committee has been tasked to produce a detailed report on the matter within six months from the date it is set up, which will then be presented to the government.”
He said the committee will study and propose corrective measures in relation to the status of MA63 in the context of current legislation; efforts to improve the people’s understanding of MA63 through the education system; implementation of the concept of federalism across the three territories – Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak; the rights of Sabah and Sarawak to natural resources as well as oil and gas; administrative matters that can be delegated to the states; the amount of allocation that is within the rights of Sabah and Sarawak; and amendment to Article 1 of the Federal Constitution.
“Once the report is presented and approved by the cabinet, this special committee will also be given the responsibility in monitoring the implementation of the proposals in the report,” Dr Yii said.
According to him, this is an important step in regaining Sarawak’s rights under MA63.
“What is also important to point out is that there is greater transparency in the manner as there is a timeframe set for this report to be submitted, unlike the previous administration where many public statements were made to the people, but no timeframe was set by the then BN ( Barisan Nasional) government,” he said.
Dr Yii pledged to continue following up with and monitoring the issue, as well to ensure the interests of Sarawak are protected.
“One of the things I will be pushing for is for us to regain our rightful status as equal partners in the federation and I believe the PH government has shown great sincerity in honouring the promises that were made,” he added.