KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili (pic) has shot down the proposal by Barisan Nasional deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan for a brand new Malaysia Agreement, calling it “short-sighted and misguided”.
The Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Minister stated the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) was a sacred and foundational doc of the formation of the Federation of Malaysia.
Ongkili, who can also be Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president, identified that Malaysia wouldn’t exist with out MA63.
“Further, with the constitutional amendment unanimously passed by Parliament in December 2021, MA63 is now part of the Federal Constitution,” he stated in a press release right here on Wednesday (July 6).
“The proposal for a new Malaysia Agreement, as suggested by Tok Mat (Mohamad) and supported by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan is simply short-sighted, misguided and would not strengthen Malaysia,” he added.
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During the Sabah Barisan conference final week, Mohamad steered that the state Barisan management suggest a New Malaysia Agreement as a extra concrete approach ahead towards realising the state’s rights and calls for enshrined underneath the MA63.
He stated the New Malaysia Agreement wanted to be underpinned by a brand new spirit, context and aspirations in restoring the rights and pursuits of Sabah, and on the similar time, strengthening the Federation of Malaysia.
Mohamad has since clarified in a report by a information portal that he was merely placing ahead a suggestion, saying it was up to the related stakeholders to discover the most effective answer.
Ongkili concurred with Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahmah Hamzah who was reported to have described Mohamad’s proposal as a “crazy idea”.
The Kota Marudu MP questioned whether or not the brand new settlement would strengthen the inspiration of MA63 or abandon it.
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Ongkili famous that abandoning MA63 was akin to abandoning the Federation of Malaysia, saying it was unthinkable to change it with a brand new settlement.
“Based on limited exposition by proposers of the new agreement, the misguided thinking is to desert MA63 in place of a new one.
“It is tantamount to breaking the bonds that bind and unite the Malaya Federation, North Borneo, and Sarawak (since) 1963, returning us to our original status and restarting the search for our respective state identity.
“Is that what Malaysians want? Be careful of what we expound in our search for true nation-building. Take full caution when uttering thoughtless suggestions that will weaken what our forefathers and all of us have achieved,” Ongkili stated.
He added that Malaysians should construct power, peace and solidarity, and keep away from enjoying with semantics and politics.
