KUCHING: The Federal Government must uphold all agreements made with Sabah and Sarawak, including the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), which were foundational in the nation’s formation.
Political analyst Prof Datuk Mohd Fadzil Abdul Rahman said the MADANI Federal Government needs to demonstrate fairness by fulfilling the demands of both regions, as enshrined in MA63.
“All politicians need to understand and respect the agreements made by our leaders in the past for the common good.
“If there is an assurance from the Federal Government that any rights of Sabah and Sarawak enshrined in MA63 will not be undermined, there will certainly be no unnecessary issues arising in the future,” he said when contacted by Sarawak Tribune.
Fadzil added that he views Sarawak’s assertive stance in advocating for the rights established in MA63 and the Cobbold Commission Report as essential for ensuring justice for the region and its people.
This approach, he explained, is a proactive response to any possible future amendments to MA63, safeguarding that Sabah and Sarawak’s rights within the Federation are not diminished.
“I believe Sarawak’s push for a one-third representation in Parliament is aimed at preventing any future changes that could disadvantage both regions. Currently, we hold only 25 per cent of seats in Parliament.
“Therefore, it is crucial for the Federal Government to uphold and respect MA63 while providing assurances that any future amendments will not erode the rights of Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.
He added that any legislative changes concerning MA63 or related agreements should involve consultation with both the Sabah and Sarawak governments to preserve harmony within Malaysia.
“MA63 is fundamental to Malaysia’s formation, and we cannot take it lightly, especially as Peninsular Malaysia currently holds a significant advantage with a larger number of parliamentary seats.
“All parties also must understand that the struggles of Sabah and Sarawak are to ensure that the foundation of Malaysia’s formation remains intact,” said Fadzil.
Regarding the often-discussed implications by some quarters concerning constituency boundary realignment, arguing that boundary delineation largely depends on population density.
Hence, Fadzil explained that while it is understandable that population density influences constituency boundaries, what is often overlooked is the vastness of an area.
“Boundary realignment is important not only for voting purposes during elections but also to bring significant benefits to the people in terms of service delivery through a more relevant distribution of administrative powers.
“It is also to ensure that the economic growth and development agenda in both states can be enhanced.
“This is important because it can promote infrastructure development in underserved localities through allocations given to parliamentary areas, which in turn streamlines the administrative process,” said Fadzil.
