State govt would like another model of MA63 cabinet – Abang Jo

 October 20, 2018, Saturday Jacqueline David, Borneo Post

Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg

KUALA LUMPUR: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has said that the State Government would like to have another model on the MA63 Special Cabinet Committee.

Currently the proposed MA63 special cabinet committee only has the chief minister as a representative for the Sarawak state government.

“We have suggested to the Federal Government that we would like to have another model based on the Inter Governmental Committee Report (IGR) as this is what should be done because Federal Government has recognised that we are the partner in the formation of Malaysia.

” Therefore, the line-up should have representatives from the State Government of Sarawak and Sabah and the Federal Government in equal numbers. Then you can deliberate on issues concerning questions under the Malaysia Agreement otherwise they will be lopsided.

“Assuming there is an issue that we want to discuss, if its based on majority voting then we will be voted out. This is a serious issue that we have to deliberate,” said Abang Johari.

He announced this intention when met with reporters after the ‘Townhall #TanyakAbgJo’ session held earlier today during the Lan Berambeh Anak Sarawak 2018 event at Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC).

Prior to this, Law Minister, Datuk Liew Vui Keong had announced that the Prime Minister would lead the MA63 Special Cabinet Committee, formed to review and propose measures to rectify the status of Sabah and Sarawak.

Liew said the line-up of the committee comprised of eight federal ministers which are Liew, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo, Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, Works Minister Baru Bian, International Trade and Industry Minister Darell Leiking and Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

The other members are ]Abang Johari, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, Attorney General Tommy Thomas, Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Ismail Bakar and legal academics Prof Emeritus Datuk Shad Saleem Faruqi.

According to Liew, the committee will meet in a month’s time, after which it will hold a meeting once a month for the next six months.

He had said everything including the oil royalty and other developments will be discussed, adding that they would like to go to the core of the matter, mainly the implementation of the MA63.