KOTA SAMARAHAN: More than 100 people cramped the Multimedia Room 1 of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH), Unimas to listen to the discourse on Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) yesterday.
The three distinguished speakers were MA63 Committee member Datuk Seri JC Fong, Sarawak Cultural Research Society president Datuk David Teng and Postgraduate & Research FSSH, Unimas Deputy Dean Dr Arnold Puyok.
According to Arnold, there is a need to strengthen engagement between the federal government and the state.
He stressed that engagement is key to resolving issues related to MA63.
“It is important for both parties, the federal and state government to actively participate and increase contact.
“Having a constructive engagement will help both parties to understand the needs of people which are different, not only as per the geography but also in the culture context,” he said.
Meanwhile, Fong said that the provision mechanism of consultation has been ignored when the issue is rounded up on the table with the federal.
“The Article 12 needs to be revisited. Despite all the amendments, the one particular that needs to be amended is the definition of the Federal Constitution which is based on 1957.
“While the real fact is that Sabah and Sarawak are one of the entities in the formation of Malaysia. We are the equal partners in the construction of this nation,” he said.
He said everyone should be moulding the same national identity despite of all the differences.
“By returning our rights under MA63, this could strengthen national integration. MA63 is a collective responsibility”, he said.
