S’wak MA63 reps urged to be bold

State PH chief tells CM, panel members to make demands when facing Dr M

KUCHING: Sarawakian representatives on the committee formed to look into restoring the state’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) should be more courageous, says Sarawak Pakatan Harapan chairman Chong Chieng Jen.

He said the number of state representatives on the committee was not important but rather their ability to put up their demands.

Chong, who is Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister, said Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg should be more courageous in facing the Prime Minister.

“The ball is in his court to make his demands for Sarawak to review the MA63, to make demands for the benefit of Sarawak and its people,” Chong told reporters here yesterday.

The state government, he said, needed to set its terms of reference and agenda for the technical committee to look into, adding that it had the full backing of Sarawakians on the MA63 issue.

Abang Johari had expressed his concern over the composition of members in the committee, adding that the majority of them should be from Sabah and Sarawak.

However, at present, only eight representatives – five from Sabah and three from Sarawak – are in the steering committee as compared to eight from Peninsular Malaysia.

The committee was initiated by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad, who is the chairman.

The other members are Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo, Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.

Those from Sabah and Sarawak include Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong, Works Minister Baru Bian, International Trade and Industry Minister Darell Leiking, Abang Johari and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

Top government officials in the committee include Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Ismail Bakar, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Datuk Seri David Wong Dak Wah, Attorney General Tommy Thomas, Sarawak Attorney General Datuk Talat Mahmood Abdul Rashid and Sabah Attorney General Zaleha Rose Pandin. Also among the 16 members is Universiti Malaya law professor Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi. — Bernama