By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 27: The core spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) is equality and partnership, and any unilateral constitutional amendments or federal decisions that deviate from this spirit undermine Sarawak’s rightful status as a founding partner of Malaysia.
Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew said this in a statement following Wan Junaidi’s Statesman Speech on ‘The Malaysia Agreement 1963: The Key to Federal Harmony’ in UNIMAS on Friday (Sept 26). (link the Wan Junaidi story in the highlighted section)
He praised Wan Junaidi for his insights into the MA63, the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report, and the Cobbold Commission Report, as well as for during his tenure as the federal minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of legal affairs, where he successfully tabled the Federal Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2021 in the Dewan Rakyat, incorporating the MA63 into the Federal Constitution.
Additionally, Ting said the party expressed support for Wan Junaidi’s proposal for the federal government to return the powers that Sarawak enjoyed before 1985, including the authority to appoint judicial commissioners in Sarawak.
“Prior to the 1985 constitutional amendment, the chief ministers of Sarawak and Sabah had an advisory role in judicial appointments, but these powers were later centralised under the federal government. Restoring these rights is a matter of constitutional entitlement and justice.
“We urge the federal government to take this proposal seriously and to include it in ongoing MA63 negotiations so that Sarawak’s rightful powers can be promptly reinstated,” he said.
He also lauded the governor for highlighting the pressing need for greater Sarawakian control over the determination of citizenship status, acknowledging that the federal nationality application process remains lengthy and complex and has caused hardships for many Sarawakians.
At the same time, he also touched on the fact that Wan Junaidi drew attention to the Continental Shelf Act 1966 which was originally intended to apply only to Malaya, but was later extended to Sarawak without consent, describing it as an act that infringes upon Sarawak’s sovereignty.
“The federal government must negotiate with Sarawak in good faith, respect the voice of the Sarawak people, and uphold the true intent of MA63.
“SUPP calls upon all Sarawakians to remain united in defending the rights for which our forefathers fought. Only through continued unity can Sarawak achieve greater development while safeguarding its rightful place as an equal partner in the Federation of Malaysia,” he said.
He also added that SUPP has pledged to continue advocating, at both political and legal levels, for the full implementation of Sarawak’s constitutional rights, working hand in hand with the Sarawak government and all stakeholders to ensure that Sarawak enjoys fair, equitable, and constitutionally guaranteed entitlements. — DayakDaily
