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KUALA LUMPUR: Talks between Sabah, Sarawak and the federal government are expected to resume next Monday (November 30) after an eight-month hiatus when the special council on the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63) meets, says Datuk Seri Dr. Maximus Ongkili.
The Minister of the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) said that the Sabah government had approached the Federal Government over the past two weeks to address various issues, including those related to the natural gas issue.
“Any outstanding issues, including those that Sabah wants to raise, can be raised then,” he said in his 2021 Budget settlement speech at the policy stage on Monday (November 23).
The formation of the special council was agreed by the Cabinet on September 9 and was announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin during the Malaysian Day celebrations in Sibu, Sarawak, on September 16.
About the meeting, Ongkili said that the council would include Sarawak’s Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, Sabah’s Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor, and the Prime Minister.
“Of course we are grateful for the new Sabah government, as we can work well with them. There had been no discussions on MA63 for eight months as it is necessary to maintain close relationships to address all the issues, ”he said.
Ongkili also said that the final report of the Cabinet Special Committee on the implementation of the Malaysia Agreement (MA63) need not be disclosed to the public.
“It is not an investigation. It is a ministerial meeting between the state governments of Sabah and Sarawak, as well as the federal government,” he added.
On the 20-point agreement, he said that most of the issues have been agreed in principle to be resolved, but cannot be seen as fully resolved due to the need for regulatory changes.
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