MA63 a subject of debate worth nation’s deliberation

KUCHING: The Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) is pivotal to the formation of Malaysia.

However, the initial years of Sarawak being part of Malaysia were marked by tensions and challenges, leading to the neglect of the rights outlined in the agreement.

For Sarawak, its primary interests lie in economic empowerment through the support of the federal government to enhance development and ensure national security.

Additionally, MA63 grants Sarawak special privileges in the form of autonomy and control over crucial areas such as land and natural resources. This is vital to ensure effective governance, ultimately promoting the state’s development and resource utilisation.

Over time, however, there have been arguments that Sarawak has not fully realised the benefits of this agreement.

Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, along with other leaders, are committed to reclaiming these rightful privileges.

This issue remains a subject of debate, and discussions on the significance of MA63, particularly concerning Sarawak, continue to be a subject of scrutiny and analysis within the context of political, economic, and social changes in Malaysia.

New Sarawak Tribune spoke to Dr Arnold Puyok, Senior Lecturer in Politics and Government at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), to delve deeper into the essence of MA63, particularly in Sarawak.

Dr Arnold’s research interests are in the areas of politics of federal-state relations, ethnic and regional politics, among others, and he is currently working on publishing a book detailing the origins and struggles of MA63.

New Sarawak Tribune: What is your objective and purpose of studying MA63?

MA63 plays an important role in returning the state rights for the benefit of Sarawak and its citizens. Reflecting on the struggles faced by the late former Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem (Tok Nan) and now passed down to Abang Johari, we have witnessed the commitment of these two leaders in upholding the rights of the Sarawak government.

In fact, I am currently in the process of writing a book focusing on MA63, with special highlights on the Premier’s pragmatic and methodological approach in ensuring that Sarawak continues to move forward while maintaining a diplomatic federal-state relationship.

In analysing what I call structural and strategic, we first need to access the limits before embarking on the quest for our rights.

Tok Nan and Abang Johari do not fight for MA63 indiscriminately, instead they focus on identifying the federal constitution and fight for our rights within its bounds.

New Sarawak Tribune: Is the Premier using the right approach in fighting for the rights of MA63?

It is undeniable that the steps taken by Abang Johari have proven to be effective. In addition to manoeuvring within the constitution, Abang Johari takes a diplomatic approach whereby he negotiates with the federal government in obtaining rights that were not established within MA63.

His approach is seen as wise, to continue face-to-face consultation instead of pointing fingers at the federal government.

In my book dedicated to this subject, it also highlights Abang Johari’s strategy in obtaining Sarawak’s rights. Therefore, it not only serves as a documentation of the Premier’s strategies but also seeks to bridge the gap in understanding MA63 among the local community. It is my hope that with this book, the younger generation can easily grasp the historical context and rationale behind MA63, fostering a deeper understanding of the ongoing struggle to uphold its principles.

New Sarawak Tribune: What are your comments on the achievements in the pursuit of MA63 thus far?

Under the leadership of the Premier, various achievements have clearly been accomplished, but the most significant achievement is the amendments to the Federal Constitution regarding MA63. We cannot ignore the fact that this country was formed and established based on that agreement. Now, we even managed to position MA63 in line with other important documents at the federal level.

Based on this success, we can anticipate more demands being fulfilled as well as the implementation of it.

New Sarawak Tribune: Are there other achievements you would like to mention?

Still related to MA63, it was the interim special allocation amounting to RM300 million to Sarawak as the fruit of our pursuit of MA63. As a result, Sabah and Sarawak now receive more autonomous powers in specific areas including health, education, and tourism, in line with the provisions given.

However, autonomy of education may be quite difficult to obtain because education is seen as a nation building tool used by the federal government. Based on my interviews with federal legislators and policy makers, they are quite reluctant to give full autonomy to Sabah and Sarawak because it could potentially be used by both states to outdo the federal government slowly and gradually. This is why they insist that education must be under the federation to ensure that the two states are integrated within the federation.

In terms of health autonomy, I think Sarawak has made significant strides in this aspect. We want to allow Sarawak to hire its own doctors and have the capacity to build its own health sector. The only part that is still lacking is the detail, in terms of handing over administrative powers to the local health sector.

New Sarawak Tribune: In your opinion, has the Premier managed to deliver the best possible service while governing?

In terms of policy, he has been making strides especially in addressing infrastructure and development scene of rural Sarawak. Comparing the present situation to 10 years ago, it reveals significant progress, especially in the development of previously secluded areas, with enhanced accessibility, and overall improvement in quality of life of citizens.

New Sarawak Tribune: Circling back to MA63, what is your view on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s approach in implementing the agreement?

We can see that he is very cautious, especially when it involves changes that require amendments to the constitution. However, when it comes to changes that only require administrative reorganisation, he has acted swiftly and has been efficient in implementing the changes.

Therefore, on matters such as education autonomy, oil royalty or tax collection, Anwar has remained careful because he knows it will not only affect Sarawak, but the whole system in Malaysia.

What the Prime Minister needs to do now is to politically commit to the cause of MA63. I believe that he will address these long-standing issues unattended by his predecessors to be in power for at least one term.

New Sarawak Tribune: What will happen if Anwar does not keep his promise to the people of Sarawak in particular?

Of course, it will have significant impacts including risks of losing support at the state level. If the promise is not fulfilled, I believe he will lose the support of both GPS and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS). Therefore, he has to fulfil the demands outlined on MA63 to secure the support of Sabah and Sarawak.

Looking at the last election, it is clear that GPS played a very pragmatic role as a strong state in terms of showing citizens who to support at the federal level. In the context of Sarawak, part of the reason why GPS is part of the federal government is because the federal government is willing to meet some of the demands of MA63 for the state.

That being said, in my discussions with industry experts, the intricacies surrounding tax collection and the proposed 20 per cent oil royalty present significant challenges. Currently at five percent, any substantial increase could have repercussions on Petronas’ existing contracts with international oil and gas companies, as it has been determined how much will be allocated to the federal government, federal tax coffers, and payments to oil and gas contractors.

Changes to these percentages could send ripples to the global industry. Beyond Petronas, which plays a key role in oil exploration, there are also numerous large companies with substantial capital investments involved in the gas sector.

New Sarawak Tribune: What are the factors that cause people in Sabah and Sarawak to be dissatisfied with the Federal Government?

I believe most issues revolve around religion and identity. The Prime Minister’s emphasis on Malay-Muslim leadership raises concerns of imposition on the non-Muslim population. More recently, his support for the Palestinian cause, while a long-standing national stance, has sparked varied debates. Striking a balance between national and community interests is challenging, given the need for Malay community support.

New Sarawak Tribune: What strategy should he adopt to strike a balance between the diverse dynamics of Malaysia in the context of MA63?

Anwar should speak more on MA63 and Sarawak’s autonomy, it’s as simple as that. That was why we have MA63, it talks about a Malaysian federation that gives certain autonomy to the state.

Furthermore, he should go on record to acknowledge the importance of having tailored strategies that respond to the specific needs and aspirations of Sabah and Sarawak. By doing so, he not only upholds the spirit of MA63 but also acknowledges and respects the unique identity of each region.

New Sarawak Tribune: How can we continue to strengthen the relationship between the Federal Government and the State Government?

We need to create a permanent Federal-State Committee. This committee will discuss anything that needs to be done in terms of developing the state and how communication between relevant parties can be improved. I think one of the biggest issues in the implementation of MA63 is the lack of communication between the states and the federation.

With the establishment of such committee, meetings should be held regularly to discuss policies and its implementation at the state level to ensure concerns and perspectives of both federal and state governments are communicated and addressed.

Furthermore, there is a pressing need to streamline coordination among federal and state departments in Sarawak. If there are state departments whose duties and functions overlap with their federal counterparts, they need to be stopped. Either return the jurisdiction to the federation or let the state implement it. This overlap can often be the cause of problems in terms of implementation.