By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, July 4: Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has described the proposal to have a new Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) as a “crazy idea”.
He was referring to a suggestion by Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan during a function in Sabah on July 2 that BN Sabah leadership propose a New Malaysia Agreement in realising Sabah’s rights and demands enshrined under MA63.
Abdul Karim strongly objected to the idea, explaining that MA63 is a fundamental document which led to the formation of Malaysia and it is incorporated into the Federal Constitution.
“Now some quarters come up with a new MA63, what crazy idea is this? How many MA63 do they want?
“You can’t change a fundamental document like that just like how you change a tenancy agreement. Tenancy agreements after three years you change-lah (sic) but a fundamental agreement which led to the formation of a nation, you cannot through the years (make changes arbitrarily),” he said during a press conference at DayakDaily’s D’Drift 2022 flag-off ceremony here today.
Abdul Karim who is also Sarawak Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president further said that Sabah should re-think the proposal, taking into account that the term as a leader, whether in Sabah or Sarawak or Peninsular Malaysia, is only for a period.
“After this in 10 years or 20 years (to come), others will be taking over. Should that new leader later keep on changing the whole thing? That is why we have to really protect the one that has been agreed to by our forefathers,” he elaborated.
He also mentioned that in the event that the proposed New Malaysia Agreement is to take place, it would not only involve the three territories, namely Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.
“You have to bring back at least the United Kingdom because they are the ones that handled or maned all those earlier agreements.
“Do not think that just because there are political parties like Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and United Malays National Organisation (Umno), they are the ones that dictate the agreement,” he stated.
Abdul Karim further hoped that instead of pursuing the idea to create a new MA63, the relevant parties should shift their focus to ensuring that the rights of Sabahans and Sarawakians in the original MA63 are upheld.
“If it has (the rights been diminished), then there should be ways to go back to the fundamental things that are inside the MA63. If there are issues arising from MA63, then we should fine-tune it but not create a totally new MA63 just to sooth the present political party or the present leaders,” he emphasised. — DayakDaily
