‘MA63 issues on devolution of powers need scrutiny’

KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s announcement on reinstating Sabah and Sarawak’s rights needs to be realised.

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, however, said several matters in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) concerning the devolution of powers needed to be scrutinised.

He said he had informed Dr Mahathir on Sabah’s stand on the 20 per cent oil royalty.

“I told him that if we appointed someone to the board of directors, we will make that person happy.

“But if we give 20 per cent (oil royalty) to Sabah and Sarawak, we will make three million to four million people happy, and we will be building a country,” Shafie said after receiving a courtesy call from Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad yesterday.

Several Sabah opposition leaders here had voiced their support for changes in the Federal Constitution to allow Sabah and Sarawak’s rights to be restored as stated in the agreeemnt.

Sabah Umno secretary Datuk Masidi Manjun expressed confidence that Sabah and Sarawak members of parliament from both sides of the political divide would support the amendment, knowing the political repercussions if they did not.

“The best way to find out is to table the constitutional amendment in the Dewan Rakyat, preferably during the October sitting,” he said.

“Making an assumption that the opposition won’t support it would only create suspicion that the government is not serious in getting it done, and is an excuse not to give Sabah and Sarawak their rightful place in the federation.

“I am confident that all Sabah and Sarawak members of parliament will vote for the amendment.

“It will be short of political suicide for them not to support the amendment.”

He said Sabah and Sarawak had 56 members of parliament, a strength needed by the peninsula to form the government.

“Support from Sabah and Sarawak members of parliament determines who takes over the Federal Government.

“Sabahans and Sarawakians are watching the reaction of peninsular members of parliament to the proposal to return the rights of the two states.

“Failure to get it done could result in a political re-alignment in the 15th General Election. This won’t be good for the country.”

Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan voiced his support for the amendment.

While Jeffrey had proposed a New Malaysian Union Agreement to replace the “outdated” MA63 on Saturday, he said the constitutional amendment was another option to be considered in ensuring Sabah and Sarawak’s rights were restored

“We can get (members of parliament from) Sabah and Sarawak on the two-thirds majority.

“This (changes in the constitution) is one of the solutions besides the earlier proposal on a new agreement,” he said when contacted by the New Straits Times Press, adding that he would give his support when the time came in Parliament.

While describing Dr Mahathir’s announcement on reinstating Sabah and Sarawak’s status as equal partners in Malaysia as “encouraging”, he expressed disappointment on the slow progress.

“It is discouraging because many excuses were given for the delay in fulfilling (the Federal Government’s) promises, for example, the oil royalty.

“The new government should uphold the state’s aspiration, which is full autonomy.”