Expect more news about MA63 today, says Abang Jo

 

Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at an official dinner for Anwar hosted by the state government in Kuching last night. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg says he is confident that more items in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) will be announced today.

He said the Sarawak and Sabah governments were being reasonable about their rights in MA63 and were not asking for much.

“It is only a desire to restore what has been written,” he said at a state government dinner for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim here last night.

Abang Johari said he was confident Anwar would have more announcements today about what had been agreed, Astro Awani reported.

Anwar, making a two-day visit to Sarawak, had said yesterday issues to do with MA63 must be resolved quickly and not treated as platitudes to win over Sarawakians or the state government.

He is scheduled to attend a meeting of the MA63 Implementation Action Council today, which will be attended by Abang Johari and Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor.

Abang Johari, who is the chairman of the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak, said the Sarawak government would always support Anwar’s agenda as the leader of the federal government.

“I have confidence in Anwar’s abilities,” he said. “He has also helped us (Sarawak) during his tenure as a minister and deputy prime minister previously. With his background and knowledge, we can foster team spirit for the sake of Malaysians.”

Among the contentious issues regarding the agreement are recognition of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners with Malaya in forming the Malaysian federation in 1963. A constitution amendment was approved in December 2021 which restored separate mention of Sabah and Sarawak in a Federal Constitution clause about members of the federation.

Sabah leaders have complained about non-fulfilment of a special grant for a share of federal tax revenue derived from the state.

Sabah and Sarawak leaders have also complained about a lack of autonomy for the two states, as provided for in the constitution, with both states claiming federal authority to be overbearing. - FMT