Stop talk on secession
> Sabah, Sarawak will remain as part of Malaysia, says Najib UNITED SPIRIT
PETALING JAYA: Sabah and Sarawak will not secede from Malaysia and all talk on the matter should cease, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
“If there is something we did that violated the Agreement and took away the rights of the people of Sarawak and Sabah, then we will make amends.
“Any amendments to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 must not go against the Federal Constitution,” he said.
On the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 165 amendments, Najib said it is an Islamic requirement and a matter of concern for Muslims.
“Non-Muslims must understand, this is not hudud. This is to empower the jurisdiction of the syariah courts. This has nothing to do with non-Muslims,” he said, adding that the government will discuss the purpose of the amendments with the other component parties.
At a recent TV3 interview, Najib said naysayers had predicted that Barisan Nasiona (BN)l would do badly during the Sarawak state election because of the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax, but that was not the case.
He added that this was also the case in the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by- elections, which saw BN candidates retaining control of the seats.
Commenting on Umno’s relationship with PAS, he said the Islamist party is committed to championing the cause of the ummah.
While acknowledging that both parties share views on certain issues, he said Umno’s relationship with PAS was different from what it was in the past.
In regard to the 14th general election, he said Umno must show unity and avoid bickering and infighting, because the public wants a political party that is united.
“We must also be mindful of what we say, even division leaders, because the public will evaluate what is said as a reflection of the party.”