(JUNE 26 2024) — ART CHEN/The Star # Metro Backpages
KOTA KINABALU: Sabahans can rest assured that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim remains committed to delivering their rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963, says Sabah PKR chairman Datuk Mustapha Sakmud.
He said that with at least 11 key issues being resolved by the unity government, Anwar remains committed to resolving the issues through discussions at the 1963 Malaysia Agreement Implementation Action Council Meeting (MTPMA63).
In assuring that there was a political will to resolve the issues, Mustapha said PKR was the only party in the country that has included in its constitution to uphold fair power sharing between Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.
He said the party's constitution states that Clause 5, Article 5.8 would "uphold loyalty and the spirit of cooperation and fair sharing of power between Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia by empowering the political and economic position of fairness according to the MA63 framework”.
"This makes PKR the only national party that raises the importance of MA63 within the framework of the nation," he said in his Malaysia Day message here.
"Anwar as Prime Minister of Malaysia and also PKR president will ensure that these pending MA63 rights are settled as best as possible," said Mustapha, who is also Deputy Higher Education Minister.
Mustapha said that 11 demands under MA63 were resolved, with seven fulfilled within two years under the 10th Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
These achievements include the handover of electricity regulatory powers and land handover guidelines in Sabah and Sarawak, he said.
Under the 9th Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, three main demands were also resolved, such as handing over the administration of Sipadan Island and Ligitan Island to Sabah.
The handover of regulatory authority over Liquefied Petroleum gas (LPG) to Sarawak was done under the 8th Prime Minister Datuk Seri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Mustapha said Malaysia Day was a sacred day celebrated every year to commemorate the formation of a federation with the merger of Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya on Sept 16, 1963.
" This historic event has also made Sept 16 a symbol of unity and harmony," he said, adding that they also recognised the struggle and continuous efforts of past and present leaders to fulfil the rights of Sabah and Sarawak under MA63.
