Call for swift return of Sarawak and Sabah’s rights

KUCHING: The rights of Sarawak and Sabah as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) must be returned without any further delay as the new year has come.

In expressing his hope, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) supreme council member Senator Abun Sui Anyit said that the return of the rights was clearly instructed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as soon as he began his administration as the Prime Minister.

“Not only should the rights under MA63 be returned, our rights as Bumiputeras of Sarawak and Sabah also need to be highlighted.

“This is because the rights of the Malays are similar to the Bumiputeras of Sarawak and Sabah. What differentiates them is only the religion,” he said in a statement on Tuesday (Jan 2).

Citing the Article 153 of the Federal Constitution, he noted that it states to give equal rights to the Malays and Bumiputeras of the Borneo states.

“Therefore, it is hoped that the year 2024 will be filled with granting of the rights enshrined in the Federal Constitution to every citizen of this country.

“With the Madani Government and the six cores in Malaysia Madani, all Malaysians who are entitled are always taken into account by the Unity Government,” he stressed.

Moreover, he said that with the success of the Prime Minister bringing investment commitments of over RM225bil as of September 2023 from foreign countries, it will definitely make the nation rise up again as one of the best countries in Asia in the next few years.

“Thus, there is no reason for the opposition to continue politicking and wanting to topple a government that is right on track by making moves like the failed Dubai move.

“What the opposition needs to do is focus on checks and balances for the Madani Government instead,” he said.