KUALA LUMPUR: The Madani government remains committed to resolving the remaining 18 unresolved claims under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), affirmed Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
He said MA63-related issues continue to be a key priority for the administration under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
To date, Fadillah stated that 11 claims have been fully resolved, while two claims have been partially or temporarily resolved. Additionally, three claims have established policy decisions, and eight are still under discussion.
“However, five claims remain unresolved and will require high-level discussions between the federal and state governments,” he said during his winding-up speech at the 2025 Budget Debate on Thursday (Nov 7).
Fadillah added that several critical claims were discussed during the first MA63 Implementation Action Council (MTPMA63) meeting earlier this year.
These claims include the Special Grant for Sabah and Sarawak under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution, maritime boundaries, oil royalty payments, stamp duty, and the proposal to allocate one-third of parliamentary seats to represent Sabah and Sarawak.
The meeting outlined key decisions, including the allocation of a Special Grant of RM600 million to the state governments of Sabah and Sarawak starting in 2025.
Regarding oil and gas claims, Fadillah noted that issues concerning oil minerals, oil fields, the Territorial Sea Act, State Rights over the Continental Shelf, and oil royalties will be discussed at the leadership level of the Federal, Sabah and Sarawak governments.
“The Attorney-General’s Chambers will also hold discussions with the State Attorney-General’s Chambers of Sabah and Sarawak to revisit the legal aspects of claims related to the increase in the number of Members of the Dewan Rakyat from Sabah and Sarawak.”
He also mentioned that claims regarding stamp duty would be discussed separately, as they involve legal interpretations that require further scrutiny by the relevant parties.
Fadillah reaffirmed that the Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department (BHESS, JPM), as the Secretariat of MTPMA63 and the Technical Committee under MTPMA63, will continue to monitor the progress of discussions to ensure collaborative solutions.
