Sarawak’s boundaries including continental shelf rights non-negotiable, says Sharifah Hasidah (Video)

KUCHING (Sept 4): Sarawak’s boundaries, including the continental shelf and its associated rights, will not be subject to any negotiations at the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) Implementation Action Council meeting in Kota Kinabalu on Sept 12.

In stating this, Deputy Minister in the Premier of Sarawak’s Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali stressed that issues related to the continental shelf and Sarawak’s maritime boundaries are not up for discussion and should ideally not be raised during the meeting.

“Non-negotiable matters that we believe should not be opened for discussion, and if possible, not brought to the MA63 Implementation Action Council, include our rights over the state’s maritime boundaries extending to the continental shelf.

“The Sarawak Land Code defines our territory as extending to the continental shelf, reaching 200 nautical miles out to sea.

“This is our right, and we have the authority to enforce our state laws. Therefore, this matter is not open for negotiation,” she told reporters after launching the Children’s Advocacy Programme organised by the Welfare Department at SMK Semerah Padi here today.

The Sept 12 meeting, which will be chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, will discuss matters related to educational autonomy, healthcare autonomy, and issues concerning administrative appointments.

On autonomy, she explained that the state has been granted greater administrative authority to make the best decisions for Sarawak, particularly regarding the implementation of health and education-related projects.

“This autonomy allows us to execute these initiatives more effectively because we better understand the situation in Sarawak, we know what we want, and we know how to plan the development of education and healthcare in the state.

“From an administrative perspective, this includes the delegation of authority to manage, govern, and execute any programmes or projects in Sarawak, because we have a better understanding of what Sarawak needs,” she added.