– by Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Oct 9: Sarawak Patriot Association (SPA) is overwhelmed with joy upon hearing that steps have been taken to amend Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution to restore Sarawak and Sabah as equal partners with Peninsular Malaysia as enshrined under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Its chairman, Datuk Lau Pang Heng, said SPA was now waiting for Putrajaya to announce their plan of action to restore the rights of both East Malaysian states. He urged all Members of Parliament (MPs) to support this amendment.
However, Lau hoped the federal government would also amend the Petroleum Development Act 1974 and the Territorial Act 2012 (Act 750).
“For the past 55 years, we can see that the development in Sarawak and Sabah is behind Peninsular Malaysia. SPA would like to see Sarawak and Sabah’s development at par, if not better, than that in Peninsular Malaysia.
“We call upon fellow Sarawakians to rally together for the return of our original Sarawak rights under MA63,” he said.
Lau said in the MA63, Article 4 states that (i) The Federation shall be known, in Malay and in English, by the name Malaysia, and (ii) the States of the Federation shall be (a) the States of Malaya, namely Johore, Kedah, Kelantan,Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Perlis, Selangor and Terengganu, (b) the Borneo States namely Sabah and Sarawak, and (c) the State of Singapore.
“However, in 1965, Singapore left Malaysia, leaving the states in Malaya and the Borneo States of Sarawak and Sabah,” he said. — DayakDaily
