KUCHING, Sept 27: Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii urges the Federal government under Perikatan Nasional (PN) to declassify the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) report to inform the people of Sarawak and Sabah of the progress.
In a statement today, he said there is a strong need to correct historical and economic grievances when it comes to MA63 and this has to be done transparently and be monitored by a bi-partisan Parliamentary Select Committee.
“We cannot continue to remain as a territory rich in resources but yet its people remain one of the poorest in the country any longer.
“That is why I strongly urge the Perikatan Nasional (PN) 2.0 government to declassify the MA63 report and form the bi-partisan Parliamentary Select Committee to monitor its implementation,” he said.
Dr Yii who is also the chairperson of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, Science and Innovation, calls for an agreement from all Members of Parliament, including those in government on the agenda and to push forward for the issue.
“Such agenda must be a bi-partisan agenda and must not be done in secrecy as it involves not just the rights of our people but also the rights and future of our children’s children,” he asserted.
Dr Yii also said it is disappointing that the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (for Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili repeatedly said that there was no requirement to disclose discussions on the MA63, contrary to the demands and wishes of the people of Malaysia especially when it comes to such an important issue of public interest.
He pointed out that it is a continuation of the practices of the previous Perikatan Nasional 1.0 (PN 1.0) government which continues to give excuses that the reports were technical and involved confidential documents which needed to be protected.
According to him, such secrecy and non-transparent dealings in the past are what resulted in Sabah and Sarawak gradually losing its special rights under MA63.
“That is why there is an urgent need for greater transparency and accountability and the MA63 report must be made public so that the public themselves can see the progress of the implementation of what was agreed upon rather than our rights being used as a political tool especially during the upcoming elections,” he opined. – DayakDaily.
