KUCHING: Chief Minister, Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg today reiterated that the four matters accorded to the State as its fundamental rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the Federal Constitution are non-negotiable.
The four non-negotiable issues which he addressed during the first meeting of the Special Council on MA63 were; State’s immigration rights; State’s rights to Taxation powers like the imposition of State Sales Tax, port dues, and other state laws; Protection of State rights within the Continental Shelves; and State’s sovereignty over its seabed and subsoils.
The first Special Council meeting on MA63 was chaired by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
“In the ongoing negotiations between the Federal and the State Governments, I wish to emphasise the Sarawak Government’s unwavering stance on four non-negotiable matters.
“Therefore, these matters should not be open for negotiations, Abang Johari said.
Also present at the meeting were State Secretary, Datuk Amar Jaul Samion, Assistant Minister of Law, State-Federal Relationship, Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali and Acting State Attorney-general, Saferi bin Ali. – DayakDaily
