KOTA KINABALU: Sabah STAR president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan has been reminded to refrain from stirring sentiments for political mileage.
This is following the deputy chief minister's recent call for the drafting of a new agreement to resolve the status of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia.
Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said to do so, there are many things that needed to be considered, which were beyond the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) itself.
Ongkili, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs), explained that before abandoning MA63, one needs to know its defects, find out who were the wrongful parties, and the implications for taking action against the signatories of the agreement.
"We need to thoroughly study the weaknesses of MA63. If there are defects, we need to find out what and who did wrong. This is a delicate matter which needs better understanding. We must be very careful in reading these situations.
"So do not talk about drafting a new agreement when you have not even done the necessary studies. Don't stir sentiments just for politics," said Ongkili in a statement.
He added that such a call should not arise at this time.
"It is like marriage. You must first find out what is wrong with your spouse, what he or she did wrong, and if you have all the evidence, then you can file for divorce.
"It is the same in this situation. Find out the wrongs in MA63, and if the government fails to address any shortcomings, then maybe we can abandon the old agreement and draft a new one."
However, Ongkili noted that it was also important to know what are the implications of abandoning MA63.
"The present government is doing what was never done before – addressing the shortcomings. We are already managing these defects, correcting matters which have been identified by the working committees under the Special Council on MA63, and the people of Sabah and Sarawak.
"We must understand that the MA63 is part of the Malaysia Act which was tabled in the Parliament, as well as the Sabah and Sarawak state legislative assemblies. If we want to establish a new agreement, it needs to be tabled in Parliament and both assemblies for approval. It is a long process," he said.
Ongkili stressed that rather than making unnecessary suggestions, Kitingan should concentrate on the ongoing efforts, and if it fails, let the people be the judge.
"Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is very accommodating and has been very open, providing us enormous space to work on, especially in addressing the MA63.
"Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor is also very sincere in spearheading the restoration of our rights. (Kitingan) should give opportunity for these initiatives to succeed rather than abandoning the efforts in search of an indefinite, uncertain, and lost world," he said.