Review of Malaysia Agreement 1963, to reinstate equal status to Sabah and Sarawak

KOTA KINABALU (September 17): Sabah’s and Sarawak’s position in Malaysia as equal partners will be reinstated, said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, as reported by the NST.

Once review of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) was completed, the two states would be reinstated with equal status.

Under the agreement, the Federation of Malaysia consists of the States of Malaya (Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Perlis, Selangor and Terengganu), the Borneo states (Sabah and Sarawak) and Singapore. Singapore left the federation in 1965.

Dr Mahathir, quoted by the daily, said returning Sabah’s and Sarawak’s rights as enshrined in MA63, would bring the three regions closer.

“The need for development in Sabah and Sarawak must be given attention as there are still districts that are left behind and with less than satisfactory amenities.

“The study on MA63 will definitely create the need to reassess some practices,” he said during the Malaysia Day celebrations last night.

A spirit of camaraderie and respect towards each other must be adhered to during the review, he said.

“Without such spirit, our unity as a nation will cease, and whatever we are enjoying now will be lost in future.”

Pledging that the federal government would never forget its responsibility towards Sabah and Sarawak, Mahathir said that the government would develop infrastructure based on the needs and wants of the people in both states.

“Based on this spirit, leaders and people in Sabah and Sarawak must be aware there are states in the peninsula that are still lacking and in need of continuous assistance from the government.

“I am confident the people of Sabah and Sarawak feel at ease and accepted in the peninsula as their presence there has no restrictions or ‘encumbrances’.

“This, I believe, has brought the ties between people of Malaysia closer. It is this that has helped Malaysia to maintain as it is, despite differences of opinions between the leaders from the three territories.

“We had gone through so many things in the country we call Malaysia. Yes, the journey is not always smooth, and sometimes we slipped and lost our way.

“But what is important is to pick ourselves up and get back on the right track.”