Abg Jo: ‘I never demanded, only asked the federal govt to acknowledge Sarawak’s rights under MA63’

KUCHING (July 22): Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg today dismissed claims by several quarters that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government has made demands in return for support from the federal government.

He said he only wanted to see whoever forms the federal government next to respond and acknowledge the state’s rights as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and Constitution.

“Whoever becomes the Prime Minister in the next term must acknowledge our rights. What we are doing now is based on our rights as stipulated in the Constitution and MA63.

“And then there is this perception in Peninsula saying we are ‘too demanding’. I ask: ‘Did I demand’? I never demanded. I follow what is meant in the Constitution and MA63,” he said during the ‘Keluar Sekejap’ podcast, which is co-hosted by Khairy Jamaluddin and Shahril Hamdan, on Youtube today.

Abang Johari was responding to Khairy, who asked whether the GPS would give its support to whoever forms the federal government after the next General Election, provided it reciprocates.

Elaborating further, he pointed out after GPS was formed in 2018, the state government did not make any demands with the then-prime ministers and the current one.

“I want to make it clear — we never demand! You want me, I support you! I don’t demand!

“So far, the three prime ministers (before Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) I never demanded but said MA63, honour it. Any prime minister has to acknowledge MA63.

“If tomorrow, you (Khairy and Shahril) become prime minister, the same thing! You have to acknowledge that. We don’t demand,” he added.