KUCHING: Never one to mince his words, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has described the proposal by Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy chairman Mohamad Hasan to have a new Malaysia Agreement, as a crazy idea.
The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president said he was puzzled when he heard of the proposal.
“The present Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) is a fundamental document which led to the formation of Malaysia and salient points of MA63 have been incorporated into the Federal Constitution.
“Now some quarters come up with a new MA63, what crazy idea is this? How many MA63 do they want?
“You can’t change a fundamental document like that just like how you change a tenancy agreement. Tenancy agreements after three years you can change lah,” he said.
He said this in a press conference before officiating at the flagging-off ceremony for the DayakDaily D’Drift 2022 at its office on Monday (July 4).
Abdul Karim, who is also Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts said a fundamental agreement which led to the formation of a nation, cannot be changed through the years.
“If Sabah wants to do it, let them think for themselves, it is up to them. Because your term as a leader, whether in Sabah or Sarawak or Peninsular Malaysia, is only for a period.
“After this in 10 years or 20 years, others will be taking over. Should that new leader later keep on changing the whole thing? That is why we have to really protect the one that has been agreed to by our forefathers,” he pointed out.
“Do not think that just because there are political parties like Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (BERSATU) and United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), they are the ones that dictate. No.
“What was agreed earlier on prior to the documenting of MA63, that is very important. You cannot change it, you cannot change it halfway through, or you say you want to have a new MA63. No, you can’t, you can’t do it that way,” he said.
Abdul Karim said instead of having a new MA63, what should be done is to make sure what have been agreed to in MA63 are being upheld.
“Have those rights been slowly diminished? If yes, then there should be ways to go back to the fundamental things that are inside the MA63.
“We can fine-tune it if need be, but not necessarily create a totally new MA63 just to soothe the present political party or the present leaders,” said Abdul Karim.
Earlier, it was reported that Mohamad Hasan suggested a new Malaysia Agreement as a more concrete way forward in realising Sabah’s rights and demands instead of the 1963 agreement that led to the formation of Malaysia.
