– by Geryl Ogilvy
KUCHING, Oct 10: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and Works Minister Baru Bian are among those in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) Special Cabinet Committee, formed to review the status of Sabah and Sarawak.
The committee, to propose measures that will rectify the status of Sabah-Sarawak in the Malaysia Federation, will be led by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, announced de facto Law Minister Datuk Liew Vui Keong after the federal Cabinet meeting in Putrajaya today.
Liew is also part of the steering committee, which includes Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali and Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo.
Other members included Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, Baru, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Darell Leiking and Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
The steering committee is completed by Attorney-General (AG) Tommy Thomas, Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Ismail Bakar, Sabah Attorney General Zaleha Rose Pandin, Sarawak Attorney General Datuk Talat Mahmood Abdul Rashid and legal academic Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi of Universiti Malaya.
“There are three levels. The first is the steering committee, which has high-powered people, followed by the technical committee that will be chaired between the AG and I.
“This committee will consist of MPs from Sabah and Sarawak, relevant heads of department and the working committee,” Liew was reported as saying after the “Law Reform Talk” at Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur.
He added that the steering committee will meet in a month’s time, where a meeting will be held every month for the next six months.
The technical committee members included the state AG, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Deputy Minister Chong Chieng Jen and State Secretary Tan Sri Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani among nine others.
Liew explained that the working committee will consist of stakeholders and specialists from the legal fraternities, as well as those instrumental to the MA63 discussion. More representatives from Sabah and Sarawak will be absorbed into the working committee.
He believed that the report, on the best way to implement MA63, could be tabled within six months. — DayakDaily
