KUALA LUMPUR: Sixteen demands under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), out of 29, are still under review by the Technical Committee of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 Implementation Action Council (MTPMA63), said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
He said the demands involve issues related to education, healthcare, oil royalties, petroleum cash payments, oil minerals and fields, the Territorial Sea Act 2012 (Act 750), as well as state rights over the continental shelf.
Fadillah said 13 claims have been resolved, nine under the Madani Government and four during the previous administration.
“Among the claims resolved under the Madani Government’s administration are the recognition of the Public Works Department (JKR) and the Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPS) in Sabah and Sarawak as Technical Departments under Treasury Instruction 182 (AP182), as well as the transfer of the Electricity Regulatory Authority to the Sabah state government.
"(The resolved demands) also include the amendment to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) Act 1995 to appoint representatives from the Sabah and Sarawak state governments as permanent members of the IRB, as well as amendments to the Sabah Labour Ordinance and the Sarawak Labour Ordinance,’ he said during the winding up debate on the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Fadillah said the MTPMA63, chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, was established to review the demands submitted by the Sabah and Sarawak state governments, based on the legal framework and implementation of the agreed-upon claims.
"The Madani Government is fully committed to expediting the resolution of all MA63 demands. However, the timeframe for resolving each demand is subject to the relevant legal processes.
“…the readiness of the Sabah and Sarawak state governments in terms of operations, human resources, and finances must also be considered before a claim under the MA63 can be resolved,” he added.
On measures to reduce flood risks, Fadillah, who also serves as the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, stated that the ministry, through JPS, has implemented structural and non-structural strategies nationwide to improve drainage systems and infrastructure.
He said structural solutions include upgrading infrastructure and drainage as well as implementing flood mitigation projects, river management, eco-friendly drainage, retention ponds, coastal erosion control, river rehabilitation, and cleaning programmes.
"Under the non-structural approach, the ministry has developed master plans and flood hazard maps. Fifty-four master plans have been completed this year, and five are being implemented,” he said.
Fadillah noted that the Environmentally Friendly Drainage Master Plan is being developed to identify issues related to drainage, water quality, and proposed upgrades, in addition to the Integrated River Basin Management studies nationwide to ensure river sustainability.
