Sabah should get back rights after status change
KOTA KINABALU: The reclassification of Sabah from a ‘negeri’ to ‘wilayah’ should not merely be a change of status per se without tangible benefits to Sabahans, said Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI) president Datuk Michael Lui.
He hoped that the rights due to Sabah under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) would be returned when Sabah’s status was restored to a ‘wilayah’.
He said that when asked to comment on the matter after KKCCCI’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2020 here yesterday.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin recently announced that Sabah and Sarawak were territories instead of states.
Lui said the announcement was quite sudden and he believed all quarters were still ‘digesting’ the news.
“We do want to know what entails after Sabah’s status was elevated to wilayah.
“We want to know the rights Sabah will have as a wilayah.
“A mere change in name (from negeri to wilayah) will not do,” Lui said during the KKCCCI’s annual general meeting (AGM) 2020 here yesterday.
He hoped that the rights due to Sabah under the MA63 would be returned to Sabah for the benefit of the people when Sabah was reclassified from a negeri to wilayah.
Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) also unanimously supports the upgrade of Sabah and Sarawak status as “wilayah” (region) during its routine Supreme Council meeting on Saturday.
Its secretary general, Datuk Richard Yong We Kong, said it shows that Sabah and Sarawak are indeed equal partners with Malaya in the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
“Now that Sabah’s status as an equal partner is restored, the Supreme Council of SAPP hopes that Sabah rights under Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) are to be recognised and guaranteed in the Federal Constitution, such as returning autonomous powers to Sabah like healthcare and education, oil royalty, Yong said in a statement yesterday.
He said SAPP also will take up the issue restoring the Residency system and the return of Labuan to Sabah.
“The restoration of the Residency system would spur economic and infrastructure development to new heights, as well as returning the decision-making powers to the respective residents.
“The return of Labuan to Sabah would expedite the building of the long overdue Labuan bridge which can be operated without the need for immigration control at the bridge. Immigration into Labuan will revert to the Sabah Government,” he added..
He also said the Supreme Council of SAPP had urged the Federal Government and all members of parliament to co-operate and restore Sabah and Sarawak rights under Malaysia Agreement 1963.