MA63 must be interpreted by its purpose, not its silence, says PDP Youth chief

PDP Youth chief David Yeo. Photo: Progressive Democratic Party-PDP/Facebook

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Jan 29: The Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) must be interpreted based on its constitutional purpose and historical intent rather than what it does not explicitly state, said Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Youth chief David Yeo Ang Lim.

Commenting on recent remarks by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said on MA63 and oil and gas governance, Yeo said the statements had sparked widespread public discussion, particularly in Sarawak.

“While I respect her position and the federal perspective that has been put forward, MA63 must be understood within a broader constitutional and historical context,” he said in a statement today.

Yeo acknowledged that MA63 does not specifically mention oil and gas matters but stressed that the agreement was never intended to function as a sector-by-sector contract.

“MA63 is a foundational agreement that formed Malaysia as a federation based on negotiation, protection of rights, autonomy and mutual trust. Interpreting its silence as a denial of rights risks eroding the original purpose of the agreement,” he said.

He further pointed out that when Sarawak joined Malaysia in 1963, the state already possessed its own legislative and legal framework, including the Oil Mining Ordinance 1958, which governed petroleum resources.

“The spirit of MA63 was to preserve these existing powers unless they were clearly and lawfully amended. In constitutional interpretation, silence should not be treated as a surrender of rights,” he added.

From a pragmatic standpoint, Yeo said autonomy without an economic foundation would not be sustainable, noting that meaningful governance requires fiscal capacity and control over key development drivers.

“It is unreasonable to regard Sarawak’s autonomy as merely administrative while its main economic resources are centralised without meaningful negotiation,” he said.

At the same time, Yeo welcomed the cooperation between Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) and Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros), describing it as a recognition of Sarawak’s unique position within the federation.

He said such cooperative federalism was the most appropriate approach to safeguarding national unity and stability.

PDP Youth, he added, supports Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) consistent approach in defending Sarawak’s rights through constitutional channels, constructive dialogue and the spirit of federalism.

According to Yeo, continued collaboration between the Sarawak and federal governments, including Petros’ involvement alongside PETRONAS, demonstrates that negotiated and respectful solutions can be achieved without compromising national interests.

He reiterated that upholding the true spirit of MA63 — rooted in justice, meaningful autonomy and cooperative federalism — aligns with GPS’ aspiration for a strong Sarawak within a united Malaysia. — DayakDaily