‘Barisan will honour MA63’

Coalition to include Agreement in its manifesto, says Zahid

KOTA BELUD: The Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) will be incorporated into the Barisan Nasional manifesto, in line with its commitment to ensure that Sabah continues to develop and prosper, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“Barisan guarantees that the MA63 will be in the manifesto and rights of Sabahans will be safeguarded.

“We are confident that whatever was taken away or had been sidelined in the Agreement will be negotiated,” the Deputy Prime Minister said at the groundbreaking ceremony for the RM80mil Polytechnic Kota Belud here yesterday.

Dr Ahmad Zahid assured Sabahans that the Government would make good on the promise and that he will support the effort to implement the MA63.

“Don’t think that Barisan doesn’t care about Sabah. I will help the Prime Minister in terms of monitoring and implementing the policy,” he said.

Dr Ahmad Zahid criticised the Opposition, which used the slogan “Sabah for Sabahans” as their political slogan, saying they would not be able to guarantee the same as Barisan.

He said Barisan had implemented 97.6% of its manifesto in GE13.

Barisan is expected to announce its manifesto soon.

Earlier, Dr Ahmad Zahid said Barisan would likely field a new face for the Kota Belud parliamentary constituency, a Bajau heartland.

He said incumbent MP Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan would be “a warrior in a new area”.

“I hope the people will give their support to a new local boy.

“But I am not going to mention any name yet,” he said as he kept the local folk guessing.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak has been linked to Kota Belud.

Abdul Rahman, who is the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said he pledged to give his full support to the new candidate.

“I will come back to campaign for him. Just wait for the announcement by the Prime Minister,” he said.

Abdul Rahman is slated to move to the Sepanggar parliamentary seat, which is held by suspended Sepanggar Umno division chief Datuk Jumat Idris.

Barisan guarantees that the MA63 will be in the manifesto and rights of Sabahans will be safeguarded. Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi