KOTA KINABALU: Sabah political warlords should unite to amplify their collective voice in addressing the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), says an assemblyman.

Assaffal P Alian (Warisan-Tungku) said in his debate speech at the State Assembly sitting on Tuesday (April 23) that this was what the people wanted.

He added that this would receive support from both the top brass and grassroots of the political parties.

"A lot has been done by leaders like Tambunan assemblyman (Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan) and PBS (Parti Bersatu Sabah) president (Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili) who have fought for our rights.

"My stance about MA63 is that it is a constitution, not just an agreement. It gives us the right to fight for our rights, like the Continental Shelf which actually gives us the right to claim resources from the land right down to the seabed and subsoil which lies underneath the high sea," he said.

Datuk Salleh Said Keruak (Barisan-Usukan) also called on those in the MA63 committee to push for the return of rights under the agreement.

He said Sabah needs to be the one managing and not the ones being managed.

“Autonomy on medical issues and education must be returned to Sabah for efficiency purposes," he said in his debate speech.

He added when fighting for rights of the people, state leaders must go beyond politics but act as one government.

"We need to learn to work together because in the end, we need to fulfil our duties to the people," he said.

Datuk Mohamadin Ketapi (Warisan-Segama), meanwhile, called on the state government to find ways to ensure that rights under MA63 were fulfilled, and not continue waiting, especially with regards to the special grants for the state.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/04/23/sabah-political-unity-needed-to-address-ma63-says-assemblyman