Meeting crucial: Fadillah
Published on: Friday, September 13, 2024
Fadillah also said to date, there have been 11 claims under the MA63 negotiation platform that have been successfully resolved.
DEPUTY PM Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who is in charge of Sabah and Sarawak Affairs, said Thursday’s MTPMA63 (1963 Malaysia Agreement Implementation Action Council) meeting was crucial for the Government to plan pragmatic follow-up actions concerning MA63 claims not fully implemented.
“We have also decided to improve the structure of the negotiation platform between the three levels of government by strengthening it through the appointment of new members to the MTPMA63 platform,” he said.
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He said, in general, there were four presentations made during the MTPMA63 meeting.
These are:
- Current status report on the progress of claims;
- Increase in the number of Members of Parliament from Sabah and Sarawak;
- Delegation of authority to the Director of Education in Sarawak to appoint District Education Officers, Principals and Headmasters to fill vacancies and act in positions and Federal financial obligations under List III;
- The Concurrent List, the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution, and Stamp Duty on Transfer Instruments, Charges, and Leasing of Land under the Sabah and Sarawak Land Ordinances.
“Other matters/claims related to MA63 that remain unresolved will continue to be discussed and monitored within other negotiation platforms, namely the Technical Committee under MTPMA63, which is chaired by me, and several working committees established at the ministry/agency levels to ensure that unresolved claims are properly addressed,” said Fadillah.
He said during the meeting, the Prime Minister had also instructed that matters/claims which could not be resolved at the meeting be referred back to him after three months for discussion with the Sabah Chief Minister and Sarawak Premier.
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Fadillah also said to date, there have been 11 claims under the MA63 negotiation platform that have been successfully resolved.
He said under eighth Prime Minister (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin), one was resolved namely transfer of control over Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) regulation to the Sarawak Government, while three were resolved under the Ninth Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob), namely transfer of authority over administration of Sipadan Island and Ligitan Island to the Sabah Government; amendments to Article 1(2) and Article 160(2) of the Federal Constitution; and empowerment regarding licensing and deep-sea fishing to the Sabah and Sarawak Governments.
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He said under tenth PM (Anwar), seven were resolved namely the recognition of the Sabah Public Works Department (JKR) and Sarawak JKR as Technical Departments; transfer of control over Gas Supply Regulation; amendment to the LHDN Act 1995 [Act 533] to appoint representatives from Sabah and Sarawak Governments as permanent members of LHDN; administration of the Judiciary in Sabah and Sarawak; special guidelines for the return of reserved land for Federal purposes in Sabah and Sarawak; transfer of control over electricity and Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) from the Federal Government to the Sabah Government; and the proposed amendment to Article 95B regarding adjustments for Sabah and Sarawak concerning Legislative Division, PP.
Fadillah expressed gratitude to all parties involved, especially the leadership of the Federal Government, Sabah Government and Sarawak Government, for their commitment to these matters.
“The Madani Government remains committed to ensuring that the claims under MA63 are resolved promptly for the wellbeing of all Malaysians,” he said.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg also attended the meeting.
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