TAWAU: Community activist Gundohing Mohd Zaki Harry Susanto welcomed the Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s assurance that the Federal Government has finalised its decision not to appeal to a higher court regarding the 40 percent revenue demand from the state of Sabah.
He stated that this decision sends a clear signal that the central government is now more open to addressing long-standing issues that have been the demands of the people of Sabah, particularly concerning the rights enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“The people of Sabah have waited long enough for their rights to be fulfilled. This is not a new issue but rather a matter that has persisted for a long time and requires political will to resolve,” he said in his social media post.
He added that the Madani Government’s approach under Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership demonstrates a genuine commitment to realising these demands, even though the process will take time due to various administrative and legal aspects involved.
“Throughout this government’s tenure, we have seen several concrete steps taken. It may not happen overnight, but this indeed requires a meticulous process,” he explained.
Mohd. Zaki stressed that the Prime Minister should be given the space and time to prove the commitment that has been expressed, considering that the MA63 issue cannot be resolved hastily.
He noted that excessive pressure or political provocation not only does not help but could potentially delay the resolution efforts, as bureaucratic processes must still be adhered to.
“Bureaucracy is not to be bypassed. It is essential to ensure that every decision made is legitimate, transparent, and does not lead to legal implications in the future,” he said.
In addition, he also listed several pieces of evidence of the central government’s commitment to Sabah, including the increase in special allocations channeled to the state.
