KUCHING, Nov 7: Youth and Sports Assistant Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan (PRS-Balai Ringin) yesterday argued that the state’s representatives within the Steering Committee should be determined by Sarawakians and not the federal cabinet.
Apart from Sarawak cabinet ministers, professionals such as lawyers, historians, and scholars should be included.
“In other words, we know that is best for us. The onus is for Sarawakians to pursue this burden to their utmost ability, and not others,” said Snowdan while debating on the ministerial motion of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah that a consultative committee on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), comprising of members from all political parties be set up at Sarawak Legislative Assembly yesterday.
Snowdan also raised up some concerns.
First of all, he questioned if MA63 would be rendered null and void ab initio (from the beginning) when in 1965 one of its partners Singapore left the merger to strike out on its own.
Considering the fact that Singapore had opted out of Malaysia, Snowdan questioned if there was any review or any fresh agreement signed thereafter or whether the existing agreement still held weight.
He then questioned if there was any breach or honouring of the agreement. If there was a breach, he raised the question if Sarawak was entitled to pursue the case in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
“How would the person (party) who breached the agreement provide remedy and ratifications or reciprocate?”
And lastly, he asked what would be Sarawak’s “locus standi” if it were to pursue the case in ICJ. — DayakDaily
