Sabah to host key MA63 meeting chaired by PM

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will host the special meeting on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) next month, with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expected to chair the session.

The Sarawak government hosted a similar meeting last year.

Sabah Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) information chief Razeef Rakimin said the meeting is scheduled for Sept 12, ahead of the Malaysia Day celebration on Sept 16, which Anwar will also attend.

He said Anwar will return to Sabah again in October for the Jelajah Himpunan Perdana, a road tour covering the Tawau, Kalabakan, Semporna, Silam, and Lahad Datu districts. The tour aims to engage members and communities on the east coast of Sabah.

“Sabah PKR’s agenda is currently packed with numerous training programmes as part of our efforts to fortify our election machinery in anticipation of the state election, which is expected next year,” he said.

When questioned about potential political partnerships for the state election, Razeef remarked that Sabah PKR enjoys good relations with the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government and Usno.

GRS and Pakatan Harapan formed the state government in January last year after Barisan Nasional’s Umno leaders withdrew their support for Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

“We have no issues with Umno at the federal and state levels, and we maintain a friendly relationship with the GRS-led government,” Razeef added.

In a separate matter, Razeef dismissed allegations that Sabah PKR had sidelined Parti Warisan members during the recent Himpunan Perdana Rakyat Keadilan Sabah event held on Aug 4.

“The allegations are baseless. Warisan’s claims misleadingly suggest that Sabah PKR lacks respect for them as a partner in the unity government,” he said.

Razeef highlighted that the event was well-attended, with over 15,000 PKR members and supporters, as well as leaders from Pakatan Harapan component parties, Barisan Nasional, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Sabah STAR), Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS), Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), and MCA, among others.

To prove his point, Razeef provided a copy of the invitation letter and supporting evidence, including a response from Warisan Secretary-General Datuk Loretto Padua, stating that Warisan was unable to attend due to a prior commitment to a retreat.

“I sent the invitation via text to him (Loretto), and he replied that they would not be attending due to their retreat. We did not follow up further as they had given their answer,” he clarified.

The nation’s number one leader will again return in October for the Jelajah Himpunan Perdana, a road tour aimed at engaging with members and communities on the east coast of Sabah, covering Tawau, Kalabakan, Semporna, Silam and Lahad Datu districts.

“Sabah PKR’s agenda is currently packed with numerous training programmes as part of our efforts to fortify our election machinery in anticipation of the state election, which is expected next year,” he said.