MA63: 17 matters not completed, but have reached agreement - Shafie

KOTA KINABALU - Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal has revealed that 17 matters in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) that were recently raised have yet to be completed but had reached an agreement from the federal government when he was Sabah Chief Minister at the time.

He said that the 17 matters had achieved consensus at the committee level and had been approved by then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“It has not been completed, but I can tell you that it has reached an agreement.

"When we became the government, the federal government had already agreed on 17 out of 21 things.

"These are related to land issues, Sipadan Ligitan, labour, health, safety and judicial rights of Sabah and Sarawak.

"This had been agreed at Prime Minister (then PM) Dr Mahathir’s committee level, but some of the matters have not been resolved including Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB),” he told reporters at a press conference at Tanjung Aru Flat on Saturday.

Shafie asked the parties involved not to bring up who has done so and who will get credit from the execution.

“Now that there is a minister in charge of MA63, there is no need to say much.

"Just do what needs to be done because you are in power, you have the post and do as I had,” he said.

On whether the issue should be debated or otherwise, he said it is up to those in power while emphasising that implementing the 21 matters in MA63 should be prioritised.

“It’s up to them if they want to debate because that’s freedom for them. "But it’s much more important than debate, fulfill, implement what has been promised.

"For me, it can be presented in the state assembly or in Parliament.

"What is important to me is to fulfill what had been written,” he said.

Prior to that, Heritage Information chief Datuk Azis Jamman suggested that Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Duties Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali conduct a face-to-face debate and have Sinar Harian as the moderator.