Kuala Lumpur: Sabah’s rights as stated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) should be fulfilled by July, the Dewan Rakyat was told Thursday.
Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau (Upko-Tuaran) said the focus now should be on preparing implementation rather than still being at the negotiations stage.
“For example, ...Article 112C and Section 2(1) of Part IV of the Tenth Schedule of the Federal Constitution, which constitutionally mandates that Sabah receive 40 per cent of the federal revenue collected from Sabah.
“Although this matter has been repeatedly raised in this august house, Sabah’s constitutional rights have been denied for so long. However, Tuaran still hopes that the assurance of the implementation of Sabah’s rights before July 2024 can be fulfilled as announced,” he said.
Madius said statements that “we are the implementing generation, therefore, just implement MA63 without the need for further negotiation” continue to be heard, but there were still some aspects awaiting implementation by the people of Sabah and Sarawak.
The former Sabah Deputy Chief Minister also said the proclamation in the Federal Government Gazette on April 20, 2022, namely the Federal Constitution Order (Review of Special Grants under Article 112D) (State of Sabah) 2022, has nothing to do with the steps to implement Sabah’s constitutional rights in revenue sharing.
“Similarly, in the Federal Government Gazette on Nov 24, 2023, namely the Federal Constitution Order (Review of Special Grants under Article 112D) (State of Sabah) 2023.
“Therefore, Tuaran requests that the Federal Government take positive steps to provide mechanisms to implement the demands of Sabah’s constitutional rights,” he said.
Meanwhile, Madius said the failure to comply with the MA63 is likely one of the sources of the curse that has plagued many difficulties in Sabah.
He suggested that the curse could potentially be the result of disobeying the three points on the Keningau Oath Stone, which was placed following the MA63.
“On Aug 30, 1964, one year after Malaysia’s formation, this oath was taken, containing three points - freedom of religion in Sabah; the land is Sabah’s right; and Sabah’s customs must be respected and conserved.
“It was made in accordance with traditional ceremonies that included the slaughter of buffalo, cows, goats, pigs and chickens, the blood of which was poured over the Oath Stone.
“According to the belief of the Momogun people in Sabah, a curse that is bound in such a way will continue to bind the parties involved until it becomes a generational curse,” he said.
He said throughout Malaysia’s 60-year history, religious freedom has been threatened; the land of Sabah, namely Labuan, was handed over to the Federal to become a Federal Territory without compensation; and an area of 124,389 hectares was handed over to Felda without equity ownership from the Sabah Government.
“All of this is a clear violation of the Keningau Oath Stone,” he said.
“That’s why eight of Malaysia’s 10 poorest districts are in Sabah. There are issues with water, electricity, roads, floods, deplorable suspension bridges and an increase in illegal immigration.
Several development issues plague Sabah. Is this due to the Generation Curse induced by the Keningau Oath Stone?
“Are we the only ones in Sabah cursed because the MA63’s commitments and declarations were broken or not implemented?
As a result, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that MA63 is fully implemented,” he said.
