Resolve MA63 through talk, not ‘war’, PM Anwar says as Sabah revenue issue heats up before polls

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 9 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today stressed that claims under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) must be resolved through rational discussions and negotiations, and not through confrontation or hostility.

He said the Madani Government is committed to resolving the claims comprehensively, including through discussions and negotiations under the Technical Committee of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 Implementation Action Council (MTPMA63) chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

“This is being discussed now. Datuk Seri Fadillah chairs the technical committee; we have meetings to discuss. If we agree, we implement it; if not, we discuss again and vote again. This is how we cooperate, not by ‘going to war’,” he said at the ‘Rancakkan Madani’ programme here today.

Also present were Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil and Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, along with more than 2,000 participants, including university students and members of the local community.

On the claim for a 40 per cent revenue return for Sabah, the prime minister urged all parties to first study and understand the matter.

“I visited the Jalan Gaya (Sunday market) earlier, and people were shouting about Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue. Listen and understand first. Yes, it is (included) in MA63, but over the past three years (since the Madani Government took office), we have been discussing it,” he said. — Bernama