The Barisan Nasional government, under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, is committed to restoring the rights of the people of Sabah and Sarawak, under the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
The formation of the Devolution of Authority Implementation Committee to Sabah and Sarawak, co-chaired by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, is a testament to this.
Two other committees were also set up, namely the Steering Committee and the Technical Committee at Federal level.
The Steering Committee is chaired by Anifah and Nancy, while the Technical Committee is chaired by Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali.
Among the major breakthroughs by the committee was the confirmation by the attorney- general that the constitutional review of Sabah’s 40 per cent special grant under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution must proceed.
From meetings held by the committee, there have also been positive developments on the return of electricity and gas production and distribution powers, all of which will further boost the development and wellbeing of the people.
Consistent to his policy of delivering what is promised by the BN government, Najib had repeatedly given his assurance that any rights that were either deliberately or inadvertently taken from Sabah and Sarawak will be duly restored and returned.
No other prime minister made this promise before. There have also been greater empowerment to local civil servants of the two States.
Najib is the only leader who understood and recognised the sentiments of the people over the rights enshrined in the MA63.