PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili described the recent proposal for a new Malaysia Agreement as “short-sighted and *misguiding* ”.
Disagreeing with UMNO deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) said the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) is a sacred and foundation document of the formation of the Federation of Malaysia.
“Which means, no MA63, no Malaysia. Further, with the constitutional amendment unanimously passed by Parliament in December 2021, MA63 is now part of the Federal Constitution.
“The proposal for a new Malaysia Agreement, as suggested by Tok Mat, and supported by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan is simply short-sighted, *misguiding* and would not strengthen Malaysia,” said Ongkili, in a statement, today.
He stressed that it was unthinkable for any loyal Malaysian to abandon MA63 in place of a new agreement, whose contents have not even been considered.
“Will the new agreement strengthen the foundation document of MA63, or abandon it? Based on limited exposition by proposers of the new agreement, the misguided thinking is to desert MA63 in place of a new one.”
Ongkili also concurred with Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Art Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahmah Hamzah in describing the new proposal as a ‘ crazy idea’ stating that no one should change the fundamental agreement which led to the formation of Malaysia.
Ongkili stressed that to desert MA63 is to abandon the Federation of Malaysia.
“It is tantamount to breaking the bonds that bind and unite the Malaya Federation, North Borneo, and Sarawak in 1963. Thereby, returning us to our original status and restarting a new search again for our respective state identity.
“Is that what Malaysians want? Be careful in what we expound in our search for our true nation-building. Take full caution when uttering thoughtless suggestions that will weaken what our forefathers and all of us have achieved in nation-building.
“We must build for strength, peace, and solidarity. We must avoid playing with semantics and politics,” Ongkili warned.-pr/BNN
