I thank our media friend, Kadir Dikoh from Utusan Sarawak (a local newspapers) who has written an interesting article on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) issue which had captured the attention, opinions and also criticisms including those by Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, a respected lawyer in our community.
However, I have chided and criticised him (Datuk Zaid) who stated that both Sarawak and Sabah had belonged to Malaysia, but the true fact is that the two regions together with Malaya and Singapore had jointly formed Malaysia in 1963.
As the Vice President of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), I have stated that for all these time our friends in the Peninsula are the ones who have benefited from all aspects of development in our country.
Do they feel that it is still lacking? If Datuk Zaid were to come and visit Sabah and Sarawak, he can see for himself how far behind both regions are in terms of infrastructure, in terms of roads, rural clinics and poor schools that are still aplenty to do.
Presently, the MA63 issue had became the talk of the town after Datuk Zaid in a video uploaded on his Facebook page recently had questioned on why the Unity Government had focused on Sarawak and Sabah, especially on the "income sharing" aspects when it was not implemented for the states in the peninsula.
He (Datuk Zaid) also suggested for the establishment of a special committee to look at the interests of the states in the peninsula, in an effort to also resolve the problems of Sabah and Sarawak.
It is believed that Datuk Zaid was referring to the recent announcement by the Right Honourable Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim regarding the special allocation given to Sarawak based on Article 112D of the Federal Constitution, now increased to RM300 million per year as compared to the RM16 million previously announced.
According to the Prime Minister, the amount was allocated as an initial step to settle claims in accordance with Article 112D before the formula is detailed and simplified again so that it can continue to be used, to ensure that Sarawak and Sabah get the appropriate allocations in the future.
Sarawak has been independent for 60 years but the development progress is not equal when compared to Peninsular Malaysia. I insisted on matters like these that need to be looked into and taken care of so as not to continue to fall behind. I believe Datuk Seri Anwar as a leader who has gone through many trials in his political career can understand and feel what the people in the Peninsula and Sabah, Sarawak want.
Datuk Zaid had also disputed the Sabah Chief Minister's rejection of the enforcement of the Regional Sea Act 2012 (Act 750) which limits the state's maritime boundaries to only three nautical miles (5.5 kilometers) from the coastline.
According to him, Kelantan cannot ask for oil royalties because the Federal Government sees the state is only entitled to any natural resources found in the three nautical mile waters. For such issue, I opined Datuk Zaid cannot compare how people feel in Kelantan, Selangor or other states in the peninsula because the MA63 agreement was not signed by the states involved.
Instead it was signed by the representatives of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak. That is why if we look at the Malaysian Constitution, there is an advantage to the rights of Sabah and Sarawak when compared to other states. Therefore, this matter does not need to be raised when Sabah and Sarawak had applied for more than 200 nautical miles whereas Kelantan has got only three nautical miles.
This is because if we look at the entire region of Malaya that there is one Central Government that takes care of the states at that time. For Sabah and Sarawak, we also have their own governments. Datuk Zaid as a lawyer should be more knowledgeable about all these things.
Datuk Zaid also spoke on getting a "fair deal". Let me ask him... have Sarawak and Sabah been given justice over the years? After achieving independence 60 years ago, were we given the fair treatment?. Datuk Zaid needs to come to Sarawak and Sabah himself...go visit the rural areas, see schools, roads, rural clinics and so on. Why are all these infrastructure facilities in Sabah, Sarawak so difficult, so poor when compared to what we can see in Malaya?
Where is the "fair deal" that Datuk Zaid is talking about here? When Anwar Ibrahim's government had recently granted RM1 billion to upgrade the border area so that it would not be penetrated by potential invaders, did he (Datuk Zaid) jump to say that the (central) government is focusing too much on Sabah and Sarawak?. I expressed hope for the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to look and take care of this. To Datuk Zaid, don't be a hero. You failed in your political career. There is no need to play this kind of sentiment.
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