By DayakDaily Team
SEBUYAU, Dec 22: The formation of Malaysia should be made a mandatory subject in schools and universities to ensure all Malaysians fully understand the significance of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the special rights of Sabah and Sarawak.
In a news report by TVS, Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi expressed disappointment that some people remain unaware or unwilling to understand Sarawak’s ongoing struggle to reclaim rights that have been eroded since the formation of the Federation of Malaysia 61 years ago.
This lack of understanding, he noted, has led to criticisms of the Sarawak government’s actions through Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros), with some mistakenly assuming the State is trying to seize oil and gas wealth from Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS).
“I want to emphasize that, while the issue of gas distribution between PETRONAS and Petros has been resolved, what is crucial is that we are simply seeking to reclaim the rights that have been eroded over time, not to take more than what is rightfully ours.
“Our rights have been clearly enshrined in laws established since Malaysia’s founding and have never been repealed,” he stressed, while referring to some people outside Sarawak who continue to be ignorant or unwilling to understand the Sarawak’s struggle.
He made these remarks during his speech at the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Sebuyau Branch Delegates Meeting at the Sebuyau Development Hall yesterday (Dec 21).
In response, Julaihi urged the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) to incorporate the formation of Malaysia as a compulsory subject in the curriculum.
He emphasised that such knowledge is vital for all Malaysians to understand the true essence of the Federation’s creation and the rights enshrined for Sabah and Sarawak in the agreement.
“I propose that the formation of Malaysia be made a mandatory subject at schools and universities. It should be a requirement for students to pass this subject so they can fully grasp the essence of MA63.
“Only then will people truly understand and stop questioning why Sabah and Sarawak are demanding their rights from Putrajaya,” he said.
He added that this knowledge will also help clarify issues such as the passport requirement to enter Sabah and Sarawak.
“Although this is widely known, a deeper understanding has yet to be fully taught,” he concluded.
Also present were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Rubiah Wang. — DayakDaily
