KOTA KINABALU: Former Petagas assemblyman expressed his belief that the Technical Committee on Malaysian Agreement 1963 (MA63) should have a fair and equitable composition, ensuring representation from all parties involved.
He suggests that qualified members from the State Governments of Sabah and Sarawak should be included, as nominated and ratified by their respective State Legislative Assemblies.
“This recommendation is significant because it can help in effectively conveying the stance of each State Government during Technical Committee deliberations.
“By proposing and endorsing qualified representatives, Sabah and Sarawak can ensure that their specific interests and viewpoints are accurately represented.,” he said.
According to him, this robust representation is especially crucial for decisions that have far-reaching implications on the development and autonomy of Sabah and Sarawak.
Ligunjang emphasiises that the mechanisms for selecting these representatives should be transparent and democratic, ensuring that they truly reflect the aspirations and needs of Sabah and Sarawak, in accordance with the stipulations provided in the Federal Constitution and MA63.
Furthermore, Ligunjang suggests that the appointment of Federal Ministers from Sabah and Sarawak in the Technical Committee would further strengthen the representation of these states.
The main committee on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), presided over by the Prime Minister, already includes representation from the Chief Minister of Sabah and the Premier of Sarawak. The Technical Committee, on the other hand, serves as an operational group that formulates detailed discussions and recommendations, which are then presented to the main committee for further consideration.
Considering the unique revenue entitlement positions of Sabah and Sarawak, Ligunjang believes that establishing separate technical committees for each state may be beneficial.
