Kota Kinabalu: Parti Warisan (Warisan) Information Chief Datuk Azis Jamman said people of the Borneon states demand their rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) to be returned instead of the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) position.
He said Warisan President Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal himself was once offered the position but declined the offer.
“Shafie had been offered the DPM candidate post during the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government led by the then Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, and again during Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s administration.
“What the people of Sabah and Sarawak now want is the immediate and full implementation of MA63 which was agreed upon a long time ago among Sabah, Sarawak and the Federation of Malaya during the formation of Malaysia. No more delay, enough is enough.
“We no longer want to listen to a series of negotiations through committees with no resolution point, and we no longer want to hear various excuses such as waiting until the financial position of the Federal Government is strong, then MA63 can be implemented.
“This is because the financial position of the Federal Government will not improve by taking into account the misconduct and corruption, abuse of power and cronyism are widespread in this country.
“We want equal rights, a fair formula and equality for Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners in the formation of this country, and we no longer want to be ignored and neglected until Sabah and Sarawak are far behind in terms of development and infrastructure,” he said in a statement.
Azis questioned whether creating such positions for Sabah and Sarawak meant leaders from Sabah and Sarawak cannot or will not hold the position of Prime Minister in the future.
“Does this mean that only (Peninsular Malaysian) people are entitled to the country’s number one position?
“What is the meaning of Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya as equal partners in the Federation of Malaysia if the position of Prime Minister is reserved only for Malaya? Do they think the people of Sabah and Sarawak are stupid?”
