Jeffrey: Let's see if MA63 just promise a political game

KOTA KINABALU - Sabah opposition leader Jeffrey Kitingan believes that Putrajaya deserves a chance to prove its sincerity in implementing the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

The Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president said he was hoping for something positive to come out of the special Cabinet committee’s discussions on the agreement, which among others spells out the powers given to Sabah and Sarawak under the Malaysian federation.

The committee is set to present its final report in the second quarter of next year.

“At the same time, I hope this is not just a political game on their part. They already had their first meeting, so we should give them time.

“If nothing happens, then Sabah and Sarawak should take the next step to get back their rights,” he said to FMT.

These steps, he said, included holding a referendum, not unlike the Brexit referendum in 2016 to determine the people’s preferences on the matter.

He insisted that the referendum could be done without the need for parliamentary consent as indigenous people had the right to self-determination under the United Nations.

“After all, we didn’t join Malaysia, we formed it. Singapore separated from Malaysia, we can too. One should not be scared of mentioning this because it is our right to say things under certain conditions.

“For example, when things are not working the way it should be, when our rights are not respected and the agreement is not implemented,” he said.

Referring to previous statements by MA63 activist Zainnal Ajamain who said that there had been as many as 50 breaches to the agreement since 1963, Jeffrey said under normal laws, such breaches would have already invalidated MA63.

Furthermore, he said not only was MA63 not complied with, the federal government also used various tactics to stop anybody from talking about the agreement.

This included the use of draconian laws such as the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) and the now-abolished Internal Security Act (ISA).

Nevertheless, Jeffrey said he hoped Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in his second stint as the prime minister, would undo whatever wrong the government had done in the past, including restoring Sabah and Sarawak’s status as equal partners as promised.

“For me, it is simple. I don’t mind going back to jail for saying what needs to be said. Either they resolve or Malaysia dissolves. You fix it or we exit. You cannot pretend MA63 is not there,” he said.