KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government will need to analyse the findings of a study on documents related to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) stored in the National Archives in London.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili, who recently returned from a week-long working trip to the United Kingdom to study documents on MA63, said the analysis on the findings would be crucial in fulfilling the claims outlined in the agreement.
Ongkili was accompanied by legal experts, researchers and officials from Sabah and federal governments during the working trip.
"We need to sit down and analyse which part (of the documents) to be taken and used by the Sabah government in making any claim.
"For the moment, we're focusing on issues related to finance, continental shelves and boundaries, among others.
"But eventually, it will be up to the Sabah government to take it further," the Parti Bersatu Sabah president told reporters after launching the party's annual 36th and 37th Women and Youth Movement Delegation Convention at Hakka hall here.
Earlier during his speech, he denied allegations that his London trip was a "waste of time".
"There are documents that can be obtained in Malaysia but there are many declassified records unavailable in Malaysia.
"It (the declassified records) can only be read there (National Archives in London) and copies can be made there," he said.
Ongkili said physical presence at the archive was needed to allow the team of experts to look into the original documents including the Inter-Governmental Committee Report, Cobbold Commission and others related to MA63.
He said it was important to delve into the notes and comments made by the British officials especially on the Cobbold Commission's studies and interviews with village chiefs over their willingness to be part of Malaysia.
Ongkili also said the documents recorded handwritten comments and insights by local leaders on the matter.