KOTAKINABALU: Former Petagas Assemblyman Datuk James Ligunjang congratulated YB Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili on his appointment as Minister in-charge of Sabah and Sarawak Affairs.
In a statement he said, eventhough his portfolio is not clearly stipulated it would mean it to be, to oversee the implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
His appointment would be of great service to Sabah and Sarawak if he can seek for the immediate implementation of the financial obligations of the Federal Government to Sabah and Sarawak as stipulated in IGC 1962, Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the Federal Constitution, he said.
The financial provisions of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 are the primary basis of Sabah and Sarawak agreeing to the formation of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963 which remained unfulfilled to this day causing both Sabah and Sarawak to be left behind in all aspects of development, according to him.
“The financial obligations contained in the Malaysia Agreement can no longer be denied and deferred in its implementation,” he said.
“To emphasise that Sabah and Sarawak are of equal status to Malaya, the name of Malaysia shall and must be the Federation of Malaysia in all references to Malaysia.”
Datuk James Ligunjang is also the Protem President of Sabah Rights Party.- pr/BNN
