Fadillah dismisses Upko’s call for new federal deal

 

Fadillah Yusof said the execution of demands under MA63 was still a work in progress.

KUALA LUMPUR: GPS’ Fadillah Yusof has dismissed Upko president Wilfred Madius Tangau’s call for a new federal deal after the latter claimed that the government has failed to realise the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

Fadillah questioned if Tangau realised that there had been achievements under MA63, such as payments and allocation of funds from the federal government to Sabah and Sarawak.

“What does he (Tangau) mean the agreement has failed to be realised?”

“Of course it’s (MA63) still a work in progress,” the chief whip for Sarawak’s ruling coalition said at the sidelines of an event here.

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When asked if there should be a new federal deal, the Petra Jaya MP said it was not feasible.

“You cannot have a new deal as the agreement was signed during the formation of Malaysia,” he said. “We have to work within that.”

Earlier today, Tangau suggested that Pakatan Harapan (PH) take the lead in offering Malaysia a new federal deal in light of the failure to realise MA63, which he said had frustrated the people of Sabah and Sarawak.

The first step in formulating a new deal would be via the establishment of a federal-state council within PH – of which Upko would play a part – made up of key leaders from Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak, he said.

Tangau also proposed a new political framework which he described as a “1+2+11 solution”, which involves one federal government, two regional governments (Sabah and Sarawak) and 11 state governments (in Peninsular Malaysia).

Fadillah, who is works minister, said there would be an announcement soon on MA63. - FMT