Sabah DAP wants autonomy to go beyond MA63

PETALING JAYA: Sabah DAP says the state can be only less dependent on the federal government if the Federal Constitution was amended, the Daily Express reported today.

Citing the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), the party said it is the basis but not the “final objective” for the future of Sabah.

“The state assembly must be enpowered. There must be total reconsideration of Sabah’s place in the federation.

“The MA63 is the bottomline, but not the final objective. It’s no longer about just not taking orders from Malaya. There must be real autonomy,” the party said in a statement released today.

In a memorandum submitted to the Sabah Rights Review Committee hearing at the state assembly last week, Sabah DAP said it is not in favour of discussions within the straightjacket of the Federal Constitution and/or the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

The party also called for the 9th Schedule of the Federal Constitution to be amended to transfer jurisdiction from the federal to the state and/or concurrent list.

“This is necessary for devolution of administrative powers from the federal to the Sabah government.”

The party also demanded for a higher share of the national revenue and for such an arrangement to be institutionalised as it would avoid a situation where the federal government can victimise the state government.

It noted that Sabah had gone from being among the richest states in the federaton to the poorest.

“Income in the state is among the most unevenly distributed. It’s plagued by illegal immigrants and there are constant threats to security,” the DAP said in its memorandum.

The statement added that the new “federalism” proposed will strengthen Sabah’s role and dignity as an equal partner in Malaysia.

“It will also allow Sabah to play a greater role in shaping its own as well as national policies,” Sabah DAP said, comparing their approach with that of the Sarawak government’s to devolution in the run-up to the state election last year.

Such arrangements as in Sarawak are severely limited in scope and effect, it said.

“The arrangements would always depend on the goodwill and cooperation of the federal government,” Sabah DAP said.

Sabah DAP also feels that Sarawak’s approach on devolution was also not permanent or secure and could be revoked by the federal government at any time.