KUALA LUMPUR: The decision to address issues involving the Malaysian Agreement 1963 (MA63) was not to gain the support from Sabah and Sarawak, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said that it is the responsibility of the current leaders to uphold the agreement.
"Some claim it was to gain support from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
"However, the most important thing for the current leadership is to fulfil the promise made by the nation's founding fathers after independence," he said at the unity government convention held at the World Trade Centre here on Sunday (May 14).
Anwar said that the agreement was a promise made by previous leaders to restore Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners to Peninsular Malaysia.
"This has been a long-standing issue, which is why I had given my assurance to the Sabah and Sarawak leadership that the matter (will be resolved)," said Anwar.
He also said he had given the mandate to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof to solve the issue and ensure the agreement is fulfilled.
Earlier, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said that the voice and demands regarding the rights of Sabah's interests in MA63 were not only based on the interests of the state, but were for the betterment of the country.
He said the demand was based on the commitment to uphold the Federal Constitution and he believed that the progress and success of Sabah would offer great significance to the country.
"We never take the rights of others, but we demand that our rights be upheld. There is no question of loyalty to the country.
"The people of Sabah live and die for the country, our beloved Malaysia, so we greatly appreciate the Prime Minister's efforts (to work) on the delayed MA63 issues," said Hajiji.
