KUCHING: The Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) committee has agreed to transfer tourism matters from the federal list to the state list of the Federal Constitution, according to Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He said this move was fully agreed upon with the federal government during the last MA63 meeting a few weeks ago.
“If we follow things correctly, it should be a state right. But we are willing to share it and place it under the concurrent list.
“You must understand. Sabah and Sarawak have got our own rights as far as tourism is concerned,” he told reporters after inspecting the upcoming Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) venue at Sarawak Cultural Village here today (June 7).
Abdul Karim added that during the formation of Malaysia in 1963, tourism and the environment were not discussed.
He explained that according to the Malaysian constitution, anything not included in the original discussion does not fall under federal, state, or concurrent list; it is considered residual list.
“Residual list means it is a state right. However, in 1992, the federal government incorporated tourism and the environment into the federal list without the knowledge of the Sarawak government.
“The condition is that if it is to be included in the state or federal list, the affected state must be informed. We were not informed. They (federal government) just bulldozed it through. This has been happening all this while,” he added.
Abdul Karim reaffirmed that the Sarawak government has consistently fought to reclaim rights under MA63 that have been eroded over the years.
This includes the Petroleum Development Act, Sea Territorial Act, oil rights, and now tourism, he said.
“We will continue to fight for our rights to be returned,” he said.
