KOTA KINABALU: Leaders of the Sabah government should prioritize the key issues agreed upon by the Federal Government under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), according to Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
The president of Parti Warisan stated that the focus should not be on arguing or taking credit for the return of state rights, but rather on working towards recovering the rights agreed upon by the state and federal governments.
During his tenure as chief minister and with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister, 17 out of 21 key issues were resolved between the state and federal governments (2018-20), approved by the high-level committee. However, the implementation process remains incomplete.
Therefore, Shafie believes it is now the responsibility of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state government and its leaders to ensure the implementation of the issues agreed upon by the Federal Government to be returned to Sabah.
The issues relate to land, Sipadan and Ligitan Island, labor, health, safety, and judicial rights for Sabah and Sarawak.
“Some matters, including the return of Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) to the state, have not been resolved,” he added.
Speaking to reporters after meeting tenants at the low-cost flats in Tanjung Aru on Sunday (July 16), Shafie stated that the focus should be on completing the process of securing the agreed rights.
“Now that there is a minister in charge of MA63, there is no need to say much, just do it because you are in power, you have a position, and do as I have done,” he said, referring to Sabah Affairs and Special Tasks Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
Warisan’s Datuk Azis Jamman and Armizan have been engaged in a dispute over the MA63 issues, with both challenging each other to a public debate.
Armizan claimed that Warisan failed to achieve any of the rights when it was in the state government, while Azis wants Armizan to declassify government documents on MA63 discussions.
When asked about a debate on the issue, Shafie stated that it was up to them, but emphasized that the priority should be the implementation of the 21 matters of MA63.
Regarding the decision of the state-owned Sabah Housing and Urban Development Board (LPPB) to evict tenants at the Tanjung Aru flats, Shafie emphasized the importance of providing alternative homes for the people.
He stated that the current flats could be renovated as their structures were still safe. Additionally, he called on the state government to address the issues faced by former employees of the bankrupt Sabah Forest Industries in Sipitang.
“You can’t simply chase them out; plan and prepare alternatives for the people,” he concluded.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
