KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) has insisted that Sarawak is one of the four sovereign states besides North Borneo (Sabah), Malaya and Singapore that formed Malaysia in 1963 (Singapore withdrew in 1965).
Therefore, Sarawak must be accorded the status of a region within the Malaysia by the federal government, and not as one of the 13 states.
Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian
SUPP president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said restoration of equal status for Sarawak, Sabah and Malaya must not be just in words, but in concrete actions pertaining to revenue from oil and gas and other natural resources, territorial waters and continental shelf and other relevant issues.
“To begin with, it is important to have equal representation and equal standing from Sabah and Sarawak in the negotiations with the federal government on the restoration of autonomy and rights of Sabah and Sarawak under MA63 (Malaysia Agreement 1963).”
“Any negotiation should be based on the Inter-Governmental Committee model in 1962 but not under the current special cabinet committee. Neither Sarawak Government nor Sabah Government is subordinate to the federal government as it deviates from the spirit of MA63 when Malaysia was formed,” he added.
Dr Sim was responding to yesterday’s front page main headline of The Borneo Post, “Restoring partner status”, of its report on the Federal Cabinet Special Committee on the Review of the MA63 holding its inaugural meeting on Monday at Putrajaya.
“SUPP will always be in the frontline of the Sarawak people’s voices when it comes to the fundamental rights of Sarawakians without any compromise and fear,” said Dr Sim, who is Minister of Local Government and Housing.
The historic Monday meeting in Putrajaya was chaired by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammand and attended by Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, among other key figures.
The aim of the special committee is to restore of the status of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners with Malaya, within Malaysia, and the restoration of their rights and autonomy which have been eroded over the years.