KUCHING: Sabah and Sarawak are affected by the unwritten 1957 Federation of Malaya “social contract” between the Malays, Chinese and Indians “by default” although Malaysia was formed in 1963 from where there is a written social contract in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

This is because the Malaysian Constitution is essentially mostly the Constitution of the Federation of Malaya 1957 with a few new details following the incorporation of MA63.

This was being posited by speaker on “MA63 and the Social Contract” Datuk Dr Johan Arriffin Samad (pic) at the afternoon session of the 2nd Borneo States Symposium themed “Realising the Dreams and Visions of the Peoples of the Borneo States” at the Borneo Cultures Museum Auditorium.

“So, what is our dream? Using the Proclamation of Malaysia 1963 as a basis: ‘…forever be an independent and sovereign democratic State founded upon liberty and justice, ever seeking to defend and uphold peace and harmony among its people …’, we can add unity in diversity, education, opportunities, environment …”