Masing wants audit, not study of MA63

KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing does not agree with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s idea to study the Malaysia Agreement 1963 ( MA63).

Masing said instead of a study, the MA63 which was a United Nations- chartered agreement should be audited by a committee comprising representatives from the three signatories – Malaya, Sarawak and Sabah.

According to Masing, the study proposed by Dr Mahathir could just be a decoy to delay the process of returning equal status to Sabah and Sarawak as enshrined in the MA63.

“What study? MA63 was a UN chartered agreement out of which the formation of Malaysia as a Federation was established. Let the three signatories ( Malaya, Sarawak and Sabah) do the audit whether there has been any breach of the understanding of MA63. If there was any breach, then the three signatories will decide whether it is serious enough to nullify the agreement.

“It should be audit, not study. A study would mean delay. Sabah and Sarawak shouldn’t be fooled yet again. The 55 years of being ‘blindfolded’ is more than enough,” he said.

He added that Sabah and Sarawak can initiate the audit committee first, while Putrajaya can join later.

“It would be two out of three signatories. That’s enough quorum,” he said.

Dr Mahathir, when officiating at the national-level 2018 Malaysia Day in Kota Kinabalu on Sunday night, said the status of Sabah and Sarawak which changed from equal partners (with Malaya) to states within the Federation of Malaysia would be reverted to the original position once a study on MA63 was completed.