By Olivia Miwil - October 2, 2021 @ 4:14pm
KOTA KINABALU: Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar is engaging Sabah and Sarawak officials as well as leaders from the two states on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
The government is looking at amending several critical legal provisions in MA63 to reinstate the rights of the people in Sabah and Sarawak as per agreement of the two Borneo states joining the Malaysian Federation.
Wan Junaidi said amendments to the act would require a two-third majority vote in the Dewan Rakyat and changes to the 58-year-old legislation would require extensive engagement exercise with key stakeholders, namely the Members of Parliament (MPs) as well as the rakyat.
"We have already laid out a comprehensive execution plan for this and, according to our timeline, we are on schedule. We are optimistic about being able to complete this within the 100 day deadline.
"This is basically what I am doing now, making my rounds to see leaders, top government officials in Sabah and Sarawak, to explain to them about this.
"This is an important agenda for us and I hope the people in Sabah and Sarawak, regardless of their political views, would support this," he said in a statement.
As part of its 100-day key performance index (KPI) of his Ministry, Wan Junaidi said he was on transformation initiatives in the government, Parliament and examining the MA63.
The four major areas of focus to be undertaken by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department is to adopt a limitation Bill to restrict the Prime Minister's tenure to 10 years; table a Bill to allow the appointment of a third deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker; complete critical bills; and looking into the rights of Sabah and Sarawak people under MA63.
Wan Junaidi is also optimistic that the current government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, is committed to the development of Sabah and Sarawak, one of the priority areas under 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).
He said the initiatives serve as a much awaited political will to push through transformation agenda involving the two states, which would speed up development and help improve the quality of life of the people.
"Even after having achieved independence for 58 years, over 40 per cent of the people in Borneo are still living in rural areas, lack basic facilities and infrastructure, namely connectivity, communication, electricity, education and healthcare.
"I hope under the 12MP, more development and progress will take place in Sabah and Sarawak so that they will enjoy the same facilities and infrastructure as the people in Semenanjung," he added.
Comments
Post a Comment