KOTA KINABALU: Abandoning the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) to forge a 'new deal' with the government is not exactly the right move.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said without MA63, there will not be a foundation reference point and basis to discuss issues that could benefit both Sabah and Sarawak.
"We must understand that the MA63 and the Malaysia Act were also tabled in the house of commons - 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," he explained in a statement today.
Ongkili was replying to the former Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia's statement that Sabah and Sarawak leaders should forget the MA63 and forge a "new deal" with Putrajaya.
Yesterday, Pandikar who is president of Usno Baru, was reported saying that he felt Sabah and Sarawak leaders were still clinging on to an old mentality by constantly harping on the MA63.
Pandikar had said in a webinar organised by the Enlighten Society titled "Forum Malaysia 58 Tahun: Hala Tuju, Potensi dan Cabaran" that a "new deal" would create equal status between the Borneo states and Peninsular Malaysia.
Ongkili pointed out that a federation must have an agreement or else there would be no foundation reference point. "Meaning, in this instance, no MA63, no foundation reference point.
"Let's say if you are unhappy about the existing federation, then what's your reference document? You can't just pluck them from thin air.
"Of course, we do need to make new deals with Putrajaya … but it must be based on MA63," Ongkili said.
Ongkili further explained that even from the point of law, when one deals with complaints, grouses, or breaches, one will need to cast those against their signed agreement.
"So affected parties are dealing with non-compliance. Then you file your charges or appeal for action. Only then you can move from there. However, if that process fails, only then you may opt to abandon MA63 and choose a legislative or democratic political process.
"But thankfully, Malaysia still has sufficient right-minded leaders, not just in the Central Government, but also in Sabah and Sarawak, who are committed to preserve, strengthen and reinvent the Malaysian Federation, and trust it will evolve a truly Sabah Maju Jaya, and Sarawak as true partners of the Federation," he said.
Meanwhile, Ongkili agreed with Pandikar who had also expressed disappointment in his statement on the fact that no Sabahans or Sarawakians have ever been appointed as either a deputy prime minister or a finance minister, and questioned if peninsular leaders felt that Sabah and Sarawak leaders were not "national leader material".
"On this particular matter, I join the numerous Sabahans and Sarawakians who concur with Tan Sri Pandikar Amin," Ongkili added.