‘Warisan using MA63 to destroy nation’
KOTA KINABALU: State rights group MySabah has expressed dismay over Parti Warisan Sabah’s Legal Bureau’s claim that the Barisan Nasional leadership has downgraded the Malaysian Agreement 1963 (MA63) into a political manifesto.
MySabah legal adviser Tengku Fuad Ahmad said he was surprised that a body, which described itself as a “legal bureau”, would misstate issues regarding the implementation of MA63 in such a perverse manner.
He said MA63 was concluded on the basis that Sabah, Sarawak, Singapore and Malaya would work together in the spirit of cooperation and consensus-building to achieve an even-stronger federation.
“Article VIII of MA63 requires consensus and cooperation between the Federal Government and the Bornean states to realise the provisions contained in Chapter 3 of and Annexes A and B to, the Inter-Governmental Committee Report 1963.
“This is because under the Ninth Schedule to the Federal Constitution, the power to make laws is divided between the Federal and state governments,” he said.
To realise and implement MA63,
Tengku Fuad said the
Federal and state governments had to agree on how they would coordinate the exercise of their respective powers in order to achieve the objectives contained in MA63.
“In saying that Malaysia must subject itself to the United Kingdom is an insult to Malaysia’s sovereignty. In addition, Warisan’s threat to take the Federal Government to London for arbitration is made without legal basis.
“If there is a dispute between Sabah and the Federal Government, then it is for our courts to resolve and determine that dispute. Is Warisan saying that it has no respect for or faith in our Federal Court?” he added.
He was puzzled at Warisan’s misinterpretation of the spirit, purpose and intent of MA63, adding the agreement was created to bring Malaysians together based on the principles of cooperation and consensus.
“Warisan is trying to use MA63 to tear Malaysia apart. This is wrong,” said Tengku Fuad.