Time frame to resolve each matter under MA63 subject to relevant legal process, says Fadillah

KUCHING, Oct 28 2025: The time frame for resolving each matter under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63)  is subject to the relevant legal process, according to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Sri Fadillah Yusof in the Dewan Rakyat. 

Fadillah Yusof: There are 29 matters that have been discussed under  the Action Council for the Implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963, the official MA64 negotiation platform

 “In addition, the level of readiness of the Sabah and Sarawak state governments in terms of operations, human resources and finances are also among the aspects that need to be taken into account before a matter under MA63 can be resolved,” he said yesterday.

He said all matters under MA63 that have not been resolved will continue to be monitored by the Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Division (BHESS) of the Prime Minister's Department.

He said BHESS is the secretariat to the Action Council for the Implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MTPMA63) chaired by the prime minister, and the Technical Committee under MTPMA63, together with all stakeholders at the federal, Sabah and Sarawak state levels.

“The Madani government remains committed to expediting the resolution of all matters under MA63,” he told Datuk Larry Sng Wei Shien (Julau) who wanted to know the outstanding issues under MA63 that have not been resolved to date.

Sng also wanted to know what is the latest development in discussions between the federal government and the state governments of Sarawak and Sabah regarding these matters.

Fadillah said the federal government today is very committed to continuing negotiations on matters under MA63 submitted by the Sabah and Sarawak state governments so that they can be resolved in accordance with the Federal Constitution and the existing legal framework.

He said there are 29 matters that have been discussed under MTPMA63, the official MA63 negotiation platform.

He said to date, 13 matters have been categorized as completed while one matter has  been categorised as interim completed, two matters have reached policy decisions, eight matters are still under discussion while the remaining five matters are now referred for discussion or the highest level decision.

He said the matters that are still under discussion and require further study include interim completed review of Special Grants for the states of Sabah and Sarawak under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution.

He said the two matters that have reached policy decisions are empowerment on the environment; and powers regarding the appointment of judicial commissioners (Amendment of the Federal Constitution).

Fadillah said eight matters currently under discussions are:

i. Federal Financial Obligations under List III, Concurrent List, Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution;

ii. Increase in the Public Service of the States of Sabah and Sarawak under Article 112 of the Federal Constitution;

iii. Borneonisation of the Federal Public Service in Sabah and Sarawak;

iv. Development of the Sabah, Sarawak Border - Kalimantan;

v. Increase in the number of Dewan Rakyat Members from Sabah and Sarawak in the Dewan Rakyat;

vi. Proposed amendment of item 25A (Tourism) in List I (Federal), Ninth Schedule, Federal Constitution to List III (Joint), Ninth Schedule of Federal Constitution;

vii. Health issues; and

Viii. Education issues.

He said matters that are currently referred for discussion or decision at the highest level are:

i. Oil royalties and petroleum cash payments;

її. Oil minerals and oil fields;

iii. Territorial Sea Act 2012 [Act 750];

iv. State rights over the continental shelf; and

V. Stamp duty imposed on instruments of transfer, charge, lease of land under the Sabah Land Ordinance (Chapter 68) and the Sarawak Land Code (Chapter 81).