BY JACINTHA JOLENE & NATASHA JEE
KUCHING: Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg wants the implementation of Sarawak’s rights as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963, the Federal Constitution and Inter-Governmental Committee Report (IGC) instead of a new Malaysia Agreement.
The Premier of Sarawak said the proposal to have a new Malaysia Agreement will invalidate the current Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“It would also question the formation of the country as MA63 was an agreement by the previous leaders – that led to the formation of the Federation of Malaysia. Thus, the proposal or suggestion to have a new Malaysia Agreement shouldn’t even be mentioned,” he said.
He was commenting on the recent suggestion made by Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan to have a new Malaysia Agreement with a new spirit and context to restore Sabah’s rights and interests.
Abang Johari said Sarawak’s rights over certain matters as listed in the MA63, had been eroded over the years. Thus, it was time to reclaim those rights as well as to restore Sarawak’s status as an equal partner in the formation of Malaysia.
“So, what we are doing now is make sure all our demands based on the MA63 can be fulfilled. We do not have to make a new agreement,” he stressed.
“The negotiation with the current federal government (regarding Sarawak’s rights under MA63) is still ongoing and I believe in the end, we will be able to come to a decision of what Sabah and Sarawak want,” he said.
He told the reporters after ‘ibadah korban’ (sacrificial rites) in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration for Gedong constituency at Al-Kawthar Mosque in Gedong here today.
Earlier, Abang Johari had distributed the sacrificial meat to the poor families, mosques, surau, and Tahfiz schools in the constituency. Also present was Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, who is also the Batang Sadong Member of Parliament (MP).
A total of 30 cows have been donated for the event, including 10 from the Samarahan Division Mosques Welfare Trust Board, eight from Batang Sadong parliamentary constituency, nine from Abang Johari, who is also the Gedong assemblyman and three from Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (YADIM) and Yayasan Ikhlas.
Abang Johari also said that the distribution of cows in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration in Sarawak as
Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) had supplied 1,000 cows including cattle across the state.
“Besides, the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak has also imported additional cows. The economy is recovering, thus, it allows the additional purchase of cows,” he added.
