KUCHING: A Sarawak-based think tank and a NGO have urged Putrajaya to stop dilly-delaying and fast-track the restoration of several provisions in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
The Dayak Think Tank Association of Sarawak (DTTAS) and Dayak National Congress (DNC) said it is about time that federal leaders – and state leaders – reinstate the terms set and agreed to by past leaders instead of “wasting time on negotiations”.
The distribution of progress and development should be distributed fairly and equitably according to the law and provisions of the Constitution, not according to the discretion and will of political leaders alone,” DTTAS founder and adviser Wellie Henry Majang and DNC president Paul Raja said in a joint statement today in conjunction with Malaysia Day which falls on Sept 16.
They said leaders should be honest, determined, and brave to bring about changes and walk the talk to speed up development in both Sarawak and Sabah, and bring the state on par with Malaya.
“What we are hoping for now is that the unity government under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim could continue to fulfil the aspirations and dreams of both the Borneo states.
“Public facilities such as roads, electricity, clean water supply, schools, clinics, communication system and internet connection should be escalated.
“Where are the promises of MA63 that guaranteed equality of development between Malaya and Sabah and Sarawak?
“The worries of past Sarawak leaders who helped form Malaysia turned out to be well-founded and true,” Willie and Paul said.
They argued that the wealth and development gap between Malaya and the Borneo states is so significant that it is “now a point of dissatisfaction among the people of Sarawak and Sabah”.
While acknowledging the federal government’s increase in the annual special grant from RM16 million to RM300 million to Sarawak in the Budget 2023, they doubted the amount would be sufficient to develop Sarawak.
“Sometimes, it is not wrong to ask ourselves, where it went wrong, to the point that Sarawak was left far behind Peninsular Malaysia.
“Let’s hope we no longer have to prolong the negotiations that seem to have no end. We hope the 60th Malaysia Day celebration will remind federal leaders to celebrate independence with equality,” Willie and Paul said.
Thanking Anwar for appointing Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof as the Deputy Prime Minister, they said it was the right move to fulfil the aspirations of Sarawakians and Sabahans.
“He (Fadillah) was tasked with leading the MA63 Technical Committee to fulfil conditions and restore the rights of Sarawak and Sabah.
“This is the chance and opportunity that should be seized to make sure that there is equal development between Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak and Sabah.
“The appointment of Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi as the Works Minister is also the right move. The people of Sarawak and Sabah hope the two leaders will bring about the changes that have been awaited for the past six decades,” they added.
