KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 — A total of nine demands concerning the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) have been fully resolved to date, according to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
He said among the matters that have been settled are the handover of administrative authority over Pulau Sipadan and Pulau Ligitan to the Sabah state government; amendments to the Federal Constitution Articles 1(2) and 160(2); as well as granting authority over licensing and deep-sea fishing to the Sabah and Sarawak state governments.
Also fully resolved is the recognition of the Public Works Department (JKR) and the Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPS) of the states of Sabah and Sarawak as Technical Departments under Treasury Directive 182 (AP182); and the amendment of the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) Act 1995 to appoint representatives of the state governments of Sabah and Sarawak as permanent members of the board.
“Besides that is the handing over of the power to regulate gas supply in Sabah; the administration of the judiciary in Sabah and Sarawak; provision of guidelines for the retransfer of land reserved for the Federation in the states of Sabah and Sarawak; as well as the handover of electricity regulatory powers to the Sabah state government,” he said in a written reply published on the Parliament website yesterday.
Fadillah responded to a question from Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran) who wanted to know the current status of the implementation of Sabah’s rights as stipulated in MA63, including the restructuring of the Technical Committee of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 Action Council.
Another 14 demands including oil royalty and cash payments for petroleum, oil minerals, and oil fields, the Territorial Sea Act 2012 [Act 750], state rights over continental shelves, and an increase in public service appointments in the states of Sabah and Sarawak under Article 112 of the Federal Constitution are still under discussion.
— Bernama
