KOTA KINABALU: “In the coming months before the state elections due by October next year, SAPP will focus on the implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963. This was the resolution of the SAPP Supreme Council at its meeting today held at its headquarters,” said its president Datuk Yong Teck Lee.
“Some people think that fulfilling the 40% net revenue entitlement will complete the implementation of MA63. In fact, the 40% net revenue entitlement is only one of several unfulfilled rights of Sabah under MA63,” said Yong in a statement today.
MA63 includes political autonomy for Sabah whereby non-local parties respect Sabah autonomy by not interfering in Sabah politics. Autonomy in a federal system like Malaysia means that the Sabah government and the Federal government of the day respects and accepts each other irrespective of political alignment at the federal level,” explained Yong.
“Other than Borneonisation of the public service and judicial appointments, MA63 also includes the return of Labuan and the territorial seas of Sabah. Labuan was surrendered to the federal government in 1984 whereas the territorial seas of Sabah were federalised by the Territorial Seas Act 2012,” said Yong, a lawyer and ex-Chief Minister.
Yong, who is also a nominated Member of the Sabah Legislative Assembly, said that SAPP proposes that an amendment be made to the Sabah constitution so that Sabah goes back to the original 1963 title of the Head of State as Tuan Yang Terutama Yang Di Pertua Negara (no longer TYT Negeri). Another proposed amendment is that the posts of Assistant Ministers be upgraded to Deputy Ministers.
However, Yong explained that the Supreme Council feels that the proposed change of title from Chief Minister to Premier is not suitable as it could be seen as merely copy and paste from the Sarawak example.
“Not forgetting the core issues facing Sabah for many years, SAPP will also take up the old issues of land reforms so that native customary rights are truly and effectively respected.
“SAPP will also pursue the implementation of Sabah IC so that genuine Sabahs possess documentary recognition as Sabahans with rights and privileges to land, local licences, scholarships, government posts, and welfare and financial assistance” said Yong.
“SAPP also strongly reiterates that Labuan be returned to Sabah. To kick start the process of the return of Labuan, SAPP proposes that a Technical Committee be formed to advise the Sabah and the Federal Governments on the legislative and administrative processes as well as the eventual handing over of Labuan back to Sabah. The documents on this process are readily available based on the 1984 federalisation of Labuan,” concluded Yong.
The meeting was preceded by a simple 30th anniversary celebration among party advisers, former and present supreme councillors and staff at the party headquarters.-pr/BNN
