KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Pakatan Harapan is confident that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will honour and deliver the state's Constitutional rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
The four-party state Pakatan leaders said this in a statement on Sunday (Aug 11) amidst a political brickbats over the Prime Minister's recent remarks that the federal government had given RM16bil in development expenditure for 2024
In the statement, Anwar had said that this is more than Sabah's call for 40% return of revenue earned from the state.
Following Anwar's speech at the Aug 4 PKR gathering, state leaders from both sides of the divide insisted that the Federal commitments to the state are separate from Sabah's right to the return of 40% of all federal revenue from the state.
On this, state Pakatan leaders said that the Prime Minister's speech at the Sabah PKR gathering should be taken with an open mind as his speech clearly reflected the federal government's commitment to the needs of Sabah.
"Appreciating what has been said and the intention of the speech from the Prime Minister is something that has to be taken with an open heart and mind.
"It is a disclosure of the special attention and the financial commitment given to Sabah by the federal government in understanding and acknowledging of the needs in Sabah," the state leaders said in the statement.
The statement was signed by Sabah Pakatan chairman Datuk Christina Liew, Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick, Sabah PKR chairman Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, Sabah DAP chairman Datuk Frankie Poon and Sabah Amanah chairman Lahirul Latigu.
"When we talk about MA63 and the rights that are enshrined in it, many seem to ignore the fact that Sabah and Sarawak's entitlement in the MA63 involves many other areas within the framework.
"It cannot be ignored that this Federal Government has been able to agree and settle a number of these matters under the Majlis Tindakan Penyelesaian Perjanjian Malaysia 1963 (MTPMA63)," the leaders said.
They added that the discussions and negotiations are delicate and involve complex legislative matters that require detailed examination and consideration.
"What is assuring is that we have a Prime Minister who has agreed and allowed these matters to be discussed, studied and finding ways for it to be resolved," the leaders said.
They added that these issues were taboos when it came to public discussion and said that that they are confident that Sabah and Sarawak's rights will be respected and delivered through Anwar's sincerity, commitment and leadership
The state Pakatan leaders then said that several demands under MA63 have been resolved for first time after 61 years since the formation of Malaysia.
These include the amendment to Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution, which has restored the original position of Sabah and Sarawak in the Constitution as well as the amendment to Article 160(2) of the Federal Constitution that gave recognition and "the legal life of the Malaysia Agreement 1963" under the Federal Constitution.
"This is a positive and important development that shows the commitment of the federal government in putting things right by recognising Sabah and Sarawak role and special position in the formation of Malaysia," they said.
They added that the handover of authority over Pulau Sipadan and Pulau Ligitan to the Sabah state government as well as granting authority over licensing and deep-sea fishing to the Sabah and Sarawak state governments was made possible through the MTPMA63
These leaders then said that the amendments of the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) Act 1995 to appoint representatives of the state governments of Sabah and Sarawak as permanent members of the board were among areas state rights have been returned.
"The handing over of the power to regulate the gas supply in Sabah, the administration of the judiciary in Sabah and Sarawak as well as the handover of electricity regulatory powers to the Sabah state government have also been resolved," the state Pakatan leaders said.
"These are just the few things that have already been agreed on, and there are many other areas that are still being identified and discussed," they added.
