By Nancy Nais
KUCHING, July 9: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law), Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, has called on the federal government and Ministry of Finance not to be stubborn or hard-headed towards Sarawak.
Calling them to honour the existing Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), Wan Junaidi reminded that it was a commitment that all parties agreed upon during the formation of the Federation of Malaysia.
“So what Sarawak wants now is not to renegotiate the existing agreement but to demand what has have been agreed on.
“Among the contents of the MA63 agreement to influence Sarawak to form the Federation of Malaysia at that time was development. However, it is obvious and known that West Malaysia is more advanced than Sarawak.
“Remember, our leaders at that time had hoped for Sarawak to receive equal development with West Malaysia, but that did not happen,” he said after handing over 66 cows for Hari Raya Aidiladha at the animal quarantine station in Jalan Bako today.
He also reminded them that the quantum of annual grants given to Sarawak should not be the same as others when the fact is that Sarawak is the largest State in Malaysia.
With such a vast land size as big as the whole of West Malaysia, Wan Junaidi said Sarawak has different development needs.
Earlier, he was asked to comment on Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan’s suggestion to propose the New Malaysia Agreement as a more concrete way to realise the State’s rights and demands in MA63. — DayakDaily
