KUCHING: Several matters or claims related to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) remain unresolved and require further deliberation at the highest level.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said that while some aspects of MA63 have been agreed upon, others are still under negotiation, with certain issues approved partially and others facing legal complexities.
“Some matters have been agreed upon, some have been partially agreed upon, and some are still at the stage where they have yet to reach an agreement.
“Those matters have to be brought to the highest council chaired by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, where the Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and the Chief Minister of Sabah Datuk Seri Hajiji sit along to determine the next direction,” he said.
He said this when met by reporters after officiating at the closing of Ihya Ramadan Camp at Auditorium Institut Kemahiran Islam Malaysia Sarawak (IKMAS), Telaga Air here today.
Fadillah said the matters that are yet to be agreed upon involve legal definitions as one of them relates to parliamentary seats, namely one-third for Sabah and Sarawak.
“The second concerns the continental shelf.
“And there are various other matters where legal interpretations at the federal and state levels differ.
“So these matters are quite complex and require the highest level of decision-making by the national leadership,” he explained.
On the next meeting, he said that the next high-level meeting on MA63 will take place in May to further discuss and determine the direction moving forward.
“We will discuss it to determine the direction.
“Hopefully, there will be a decision. Or perhaps there may not be a decision yet, requiring further negotiations.
“We will only know when this matter is reported to the consultation council, and they will provide direction,” he said.
The MADANI government has successfully resolved nine claims related to the MA63, including the recognition of the Public Works Department (JKR) as well as the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) of Sabah and Sarawak as Technical Departments under Treasury Instruction 182 (AP182).
Fadillah said the resolution also involved amending the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) Act 1995 to appoint representatives of the Sabah and Sarawak state governments as permanent members of IRB.
“Other matters resolved were the handover of power to regulate gas supply in Sabah, the administration of the judiciary in Sabah and Sarawak as well as the preparation of special guidelines for the resumption of land reserved for federal purposes in Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.
