Minister says negotiations on MA63, oil rights went smoothly, confident all will end well
Azmin (left) and Abang Johari at the meeting.
KUCHING: Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali is confident that things will work out well between the federal and state governments of Sabah and Sarawak over talks on reviewing rights of the two states within the framework of Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Azmin, in his Facebook account, said the separate meetings between his ministry, Petronas and the Sarawak government at 3pm yesterday ran smoothly, proof that close cooperation among them still exists and relevant.
“I am confident that the cooperation between federal and state governments is still intact for the sake of all Malaysians’ well-being,” said Azmin.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg was among those present at this meeting, held at Bangunan Perdana Putra in Putrajaya.
Assistant Minister of Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, deputy Speaker Datuk Gerawat Gala and State Attorney General Datuk Talat Mahmood Abdul Rashid were also present.
In a related development, Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii, who is Sarawak DAP Youth secretary, said he welcomed the passing of the motion to have additional members from Sabah and Sarawak to the Steering Committee to Review the MA63.
This would give more representation as well as input from different specialists, he said.
He named Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau, Gerawat, Sharifah Hasidah, Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Chong Chieng Jen and former Sabah state attorney-general Datuk Stephen Foo as among those who should be in the Steering Committee to review MA63.