State Consultative Committee to be voice of Sarawakians in talks on MA63 — Dr Sim
Dr Sim addressing members of the press. Also seen are Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang (on Dr Sim’s right) and other SUPP leaders.
KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said the State Consultative Committee proposed at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) is to ensure that all Sarawakians are represented in the state government’s effort to revisit the spirit of Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Dr Sim said the move to set up such committee is timely and shows that the Sarawak government under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg is serious about the matter.
“It is important for the committee members comprising elected representatives from all political parties to find out what was the spirit of the MA63 55 years ago and what rights had been eroded away intentionally or unintentionally over the years,” said Dr Sim when met during the lunch break of the DUN sitting yesterday.
The Minister of Local Government and Housing said he hoped all those who agreed to the motion moved by Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (Asajaya assemblyman) supported it with utmost sincerity and not just gave lip service.
On a related matter, Dr Sim hoped that the MA63 inter-governmental (steering) committee comprising elected representatives from Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak could sit down and treat each other as equal partners when revisiting the spirit and mechanism of the agreement formulated by past leaders in 1963.
Among the bone of contentions for Sarawakians is the inequitable distribution of allocation to Sarawak, considering that the state produces the most oil and gas resources in Malaysia, thereby contributing much towards the nation’s economy.
On top of that Sarawak wants to be given autonomy on matters involving education and healthcare.
The most glaring autonomous right practised by the Sarawak government at the moment is the one involving immigration.
The State Consultative Committee is to determine and agree upon the representations for submission to the Sarawak representatives of the federal MA63 Steering Committee to advance and safeguard the special interests, rights and position of Sarawak as enshrined in MA63 and the Federal Constitution and to meet the expectations of Sarawakians for greater autonomy and devolution of powers to the state.
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