Activist: Devt promises aside, expedite return of rights under MA63
KUCHING: The promise that federal development projects in Sarawak would continue regardless of who is governing the state should not distract the people from the fact that the return of rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 ( MA63) needs to be expedited.
Solidarity Anak Sarawak ( SAS) leader Peter John Jaban said the Putrajaya should not forget the importance of MA63 to both Sarawak and Sabah, and not attempt to ‘buy itself time’ by making such promises.
“Only when MA63 is expedited will Sarawak be able to develop itself, regardless of promises made by the federal government. I think the gist of it remains the return of our eroded rights, with the federal government seemingly buying time.
“They (federal government) may say all they want about developing Sarawak but to us, it is just a passing remark to make us feel good. The real deal is MA63,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.
Peter was commenting on the statement by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad after the latter attended a closed- door briefing on the progress of federal development projects in Sarawak, here yesterday.
Dr Mahathir told reporters that Putrajaya will continue to develop Sarawak regardless of who is governing the state, as Sarawak is part of Malaysia.
“We would, of course, prefer a government that is friendly, that is of the same party ( Pakatan Harapan) as the federal government. But whether it is different or the same government, federal projects in Sarawak will go on,” he was quoted as saying.
Peter pointed out that even though much has been said about the return of rights under MA63, Sarawakians are still being kept waiting.
“One of the reasons why there are calls for Sarawak to no longer be part of the federation ( of Malaysia) is because MA63 is not being honoured by Putrajaya.
“Sarawak’s sovereignty as an equal partner in the Federation of Malaysia is threatened through this blatant act of disregard. We as Sarawakians will go on fighting for our rights to be restored,” he said.
He also said that oil and gas revenues derived from Sarawak and Sabah have formed a ‘massive’ part of the country’s budget over the past 50 years, but that the two states have seen little benefit to the point of becoming among the poorest- developed states in the country.
“If we ( Sarawak and Sabah) were able to get back the benefits, imagine how much the two states would be able to develop and no longer be the poorest in Malaysia.
“But how much longer must we wait? That is for Putrajaya to answer. The new government may have promised new hope, but please honour your promises to re-instate Sarawak’s rights. We have been kept waiting a long time, including by previous administrations.”