By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, Nov 17: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has received a notice of meeting from the Steering Committee on Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) but no agenda is stated on the notice.
Speaking to reporters at a news conference after closing the GPS Convention at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching here yesterday, he however, hoped the meeting will be held tomorrow will be impactful and fruitful to recover the state’s eroded rights.
“The only thing is I have the agenda but there is nothing on the agenda. How can I tell you? It’s just a notice of meeting,” he said when asked by the media what would he be expecting to transpire from the meeting.
The Chief Minster said he did not have high expectation on the meeting but hoped it could be conclusive in the restoration of Sarawak’s eroded rights.
“Maybe, possible. The deadline is supposed to be end of October. They are to report to the Parliamentary session and apparently on the Nov 18, there is a meeting,” said Abang Johari when questioned by the media on the non-committal attitude of those in the meeting to come out with a conclusion when the deadline was expired on Oct 30.
When asked to comment whether the series of meetings were just merely talks and rhetoric, Abang Johari said – “Let the people assess. I can’t say anything. Let the people assess because we have the chairman (Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) there. We just go there as directed by the chairman.”
Abang Johari added that without the agenda, the meeting could still continue as minutes of the previous meeting will still be made available.
“We will discuss anything arising from the previous minutes,” he said.
Among others, the special MA63 Steering Committee will discuss on the restoration of Sarawak’s original status as a region and also matters regarding oil and gas.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said the Sarawak government will look into the laws which can be used to stop the implementation of the Federal Village Management Council (MPKKP) here.
“If we stop the extension (of MPKKP), they can come under different names, instead of MPKKP,” he said.
Abang Johari insisted that was no reason for Putrajaya to set up grassroots organisations like MPKKP in Sarawak as it already has the Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) in the villages and longhouses, whose function is similar to MPKKP. — DayakDaily
