Madius Tangau
KOTA KINABALU: UPKO acting president Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau has called on all members of parliament in the country to come together to help restore Sabah and Sarawak’s position as equal partners as enshrined under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“Let us look beyond political divides and affiliations, but for once, let us come together, to support this call to amend Article 1(2) in the Federal Constitution, where Sabah and Sarawak will then be equal partners with Peninsular Malaysia, as pledged by the Prime Minister at this year’s Malaysia Day celebration,” he said.
Tangau, who is also a Deputy Chief Minister, said for too long, many Sabahans and Sarawakians feel that they have been shortchanged. “We no longer need to feel shortchanged because this is the opportunity for us to do what is right! All MPs representing the people of our land, please come together to support the amendment and we can undo what has not been done right. We no longer need to self-pity and call anyone a bluff, let us look forward and do what is right and what is best for our people in Mainland Malaysia.
“This is not a time for political rhetorics for political survival, but we are dealing with our fundamental rights that have to be upheld, protected and defended.
“We, the Mainland Malaysians, no longer need to feel that we are shorter and lesser than our siblings in Peninsular Malaysia. If we don’t seize the moment to rectify what has been done wrong over the last 55 years, and to do what is right this time, we only have ourselves to blame from now onwards,” he said.
Dr Mahathir has pledged that he is going to restore Sabah and Sarawak’s position as equal partners as enshrined under MA63.
However, the Prime Minister mentioned that he does not have two-thrid majority votes in the Federal Parliament to amend the Article 1(2) which was amended in 1976 to downgrade Sabah and Sarawak as the 12th and 13th state of Malaysia instead of equal partners.
The PM and Pakatan Government would need two-third majority votes in the Federal Parliament to restore Article 1(2) back to its original version as per what our forefathers signed back in 1963.
“I am most grateful that Tun made the statement and commitment at the all important and auspicious Malaysia Day celebration in Sabah yesterday.
“I must commend Tun for his commitment to restore justice and our long lost privileges under MA63.
“We all know that in the course of development and competing priorities, the implementation of MA63 has not exactly been fulfilled as what it laid out to be. This is most regrettable. But, I am confident that having PM’s promises at this year’s Malaysia Day celebration that the PH government will protect, uphold and restore the rights and privileges of Mainland Malaysians (Sabah + Sarawak) as provided for in MA63 is most assuring and comforting to us all as Malaysians. When there is political will, there is a way,” added Tangau.