KUCHING: The Sarawak government will respect the Sabah government’s decision should the latter accept Barisan Nasional’s (BN) proposal for a new Malaysia Agreement.
But Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, MA63, State-Federal Relations), Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali said any such decision will not affect Sarawak.
“Sarawak has fought for the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63) since the time of the late Tok Nan (Tan Sri Adenan Satem) until the current Premier of Sarawak (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg).
“Therefore, whatever the Sabah government’s decision is, it is up to them. However, the decision will not affect the state.
“We will continue to fight for rights according to the Premier’s instructions,” she said when met by the media after representing the Premier at the Kuching Cleanliness Month launch at the Kuching Waterfront here on Today (July 3).
Hasidah was reacting to the recent proposal made by BN Deputy Chairman, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, that Sabah BN propose a new Malaysia Agreement.
He said a new agreement was needed with a new spirit and context to restore Sabah’s rights and interests.
“At the same time, it (the new 1963 Malaysia Agreement) will strengthen the Federation of Malaysia,” he said when addressing the Sabah BN Convention in Sabah, on Saturday (July 2).
Hasidah however noted that some state rights have been reclaimed over the past few years with some other areas still in the process of negotiation.
She said Sarawak had requested that a meeting to discuss issues related to MA63 with the Federal government be expedited.
