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).

A state or parliamentary seat won by a Malayan party is seat taken away from Sarawak, says PBK

KUCHING, Oct 27 2025: Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan asserted that a state or parliamentary seat in Sarawak and Sabah won by any Malayan political party is seat taken away to Malaya.

Voon Lee Shan: It was not the intention of our people before the  formation of Malaysia to allow Malayan political  parties to set foot in Sarawak
 

He said, therefore, Sarawakians and Sabahans must reject Malayan political parties such as DAP, Pas, PKR and Amanah from winning any state or parliamentary seat from their state.

He claimed that Malayan political parties based in Sarawak or Sabah have to listen to their masters in Malaya when it comes to crucial issues regarding the rights of the Borneo states.

“Therefore, the people of the two Borneo states should protect their rights from being taken away,” Voon said in a statement, today.

He dismissed a recent call by Sarawak DAP that it wanted to be a stronger opposition in Sarawak, calling on Sarawakians not to support an outside party.

He said the Sarawak DAP should understand that it is not the issue of greater opposition voice in Sarawak, but it is  an issue that Malayan political parties was not supposed to set foot in Sarawak.

“It was not the intention of our people before the  formation of Malaysia to allow Malayan political  parties to set foot here,” he said.

Voon noted that before Malaysia was formed, there was no intention by the people  to allow political parties from Malaya to come to Sarawak and to contest and win seats in the Sarawak Legislature and in Parliament.

“A seat won by a Malayan political party is a seat won by Malaya. Sarawakians should see that this is a right taken away by Malaya,” he said.

He urged Sarawakians to observe that the presence of political parties like DAP, Pas, PKR, Amanah and Umno always import political cultures that are not suitable to Sarawak and Sabah political cultures.

“These political parties brought with them their national agenda of racial and religious politics into Sarawak and Sabah that can destabilise the existing racial and religious harmony,” he said.

Voon noted that the people of Sabah are now crying for justice for Sabah and Sabahans and this is gaining momentum in the run-up to the 17th state election.

He said Sarawakians should also follow the same and not to allow political parties to dominate their state.

“The presence of political parties like DAP, PKR and Pas can cause fragmentation of  opposition votes, especially in multi-cornered contests, which can result in a higher percentage of votes for the ruling coalition.

“GPS will gain great advantage if Malayan political parties are to contest in the coming 13th Sarawak election,” he said.

PBK names 11 candidates for the Sabah state election

KUCHING, Oct 27 2025: Parti Bumi Kenyalang’s (PBK) Sabah chapter will contest in 11 seats in the coming Sabah election, PBK president Voon Lee Shan has confirmed. 

Voon Lee Shan: A few more names will be announced later

“Yes, it is confirmed. I have already issued surat watiqah (letters of authorisation) to the candidates to contest under the party’s symbol,” he said today when asked if PBK Sabah chapter would be fielding candidates in the Sabah election.

He said the handing over of the letters was held in Kota Kinabalu last Saturday.

The candidates who have been issued with the letters are Halman Maniuk (Banggi), Gunsanad Malingka (Bengkoka), Datuk Abdul Halim Yussof (Tanjong Kapor), Robbin Banati (Bandau), James Gantukok (Tandek), Mohd Yunus Ibrahim (Karambunai), Candy Chiew (Likas), Datin Soh Kee Suat @ So Chee Say (Api-Api), Datuk Loh Ee Eng (Tanjung Aru), Datuk Jasni Matlani  (Tanjung Keramat) and Walter Norbert Johnny (Moyog).

Soh Kee Suat is the chairman of PBK Sabah chapter  while Loh Ee Eng is the deputy chairman.

Voon said he will announce a few more names who will be contesting under PBK’s symbol.

Polling day for the Sabah election has been fixed for November 29 while nomination of candidates is scheduled for November 15.

The Sabah legislative assembly was dissolved on October 6 to pave the way for the registered voters to elect 73 members for another five-year term.

Sabah has 1,784,893 registered voters, comprising 1,769,417 ordinary voters and 11,697 security personnel and their spouses.

Sarawak DAP eyes 18 seats if the new electoral map is used in next state polls

BINTULU, Oct 26 2025: Sarawak DAP will contest 18 seats in the  upcoming Sarawak state election provided that the new electoral map is used,  its chairman Chong Chieng Jen has said.

Chong Chieng Jen: The Sarawak DAP will not battle to change the state government in the coming state election
 

However, he said the party will contest 15 seats if the current number remains at 82 when the state election is called.

The Sarawak Legislative Assembly (SLA) passed amendments to the State Constitution last year to increase the number of state seats from 82 to 99.

The Election Commission (EC), however, has yet to finalise the delineation exercise  of the state constituencies and if the new electoral map will be ready when the election is called either at the end of 2026 or early 2027.

The last state election was held on December 18, 2021.

Chong, who is also Padungan Sarawak Legislative Member (SLM), said he wants to make it clear that the coming state election will not be a battle for a change of government.  

“This shall be a battle for a stronger check and balance in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (SLA), a battle for a stronger voice of the people of Sarawak and a battle for more accountability on the part of the government,” he said at the party’s annual convention here.

“All said, the necessary check and balance and the alternative voices of the people will not be heard and respected if we only have two at present in the 82-member assembly.  

“We and the people of Sarawak need more Opposition SLMs,” he said.

He expressed his hope that at the next convention, the party will have more SLMs after the state election.

Chong, who is also Stampin MP, stressed that the party’s struggle is based upon a strong belief that for any healthy democracy to operate, there must be a strong opposition and any government, without the existence of opposition, will inevitably become a tyranny.

He said Sarawak needs a strong Opposition to keep the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in check, adding that there are many who claim to be Opposition parties, but they either had never won any seat in elections or after winning some seats, joined the state government.

“All these years, the party remains the lone and consistent Opposition voice in the Sarawak but we never back away.

“Whenever someone is oppressed or bullied by the system or the government and its agencies, invariably it is the DAP who steps forward speaking up for and defending the oppressed and helping to resolve their problems,” he added.

 

Sarawak DAP urges state government to recognise third-generation Sarawakians of Chinese origin as natives

BINTULU, Oct 26 2025: Sarawak DAP has urged the state government to consider include the third-generation Sarawakians of Chinese, Indian or any other origins not mentioned in the Schedule of the Interpretation Ordinance as natives of the state.

Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen being welcomed on arrival for the party's annual convention 

This is one of the resolutions adopted at the party’s annual convention here today.

Another resolution called upon the state government to achieve more racially balanced civil service proportionate to the racial composition of Sarawak by having equal and fair opportunity of promotion to all races.

The party calls upon the state government to effectively resolve the flooding problem in the state as well as to promptly pay out compensation to the flood victims, including the victims of Bintulu flood in early 2025.

Other resolutions are:

1. Calling for an independent and transparent investigation into the integrity and accuracy of the smart metres deployed by Sesco as the general public has felt a sudden increase in the electricity bills after the installation of the smart meters to their premises;

2. Calling on the state government to reveal the details of the RM30 billion loans taken by its companies, including the interest terms, loan repayment conditions, and the specific purposes for which the loans were obtained;

3. Calling on the state government to increase the efficiency and accountability of the local governments so that the issues affecting the people can be resolved in a more effective and responsive manners for better living conditions;

4. Calling on the state government to proactively address the issue of delayed completion of housing projects and issuance of individual titles in order to effectively help the stranded and innocent house purchasers;

5. Calling on the state government to review the re-categorization of land in Sarawak which has tremendously increased the land lease renewal premium of vast area of land;

6. Calling on the state government to implement reforms in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly, particularly by appointing an opposition member as the Public Account Committee (PAC) chairman;

7. Calling on the state government to stop relying on off-balance sheet expenditures through alternative funding initiatives which distorts and conceal the actual government spending in the annual budget document.

8. Calling on the state government to review its plan to implement hydrogen powered Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) project due to lack of viability, sustainability and cost effectiveness;

9. Calling on all local councils to put on hold any attempt to increase assessment rates, particularly in view of the increase in state revenue, which should be distributed and enjoyed by the people;

10. Calling on the state government and Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd to resolve all water supply issues including taking steps to immediately upgrade all the existing water pipes which are susceptible to leakages (and thus Non-Revenue Water which costs millions of ringgit to all taxpayers on a yearly basis) which in turn also leads to numerous water cuts that affects the livelihood of the public.