SARAWAK Chief Minister Abang Johari Abang Openg should discuss his objections over representation in the special cabinet committee to revisit the Malaysia Agreement 1963, said de facto law minister Liew Vui Keong.

“We have already included the Sarawak attorney-general in the line-up,” Liew told reporters after speaking at a law forum in Universiti Malaya today.

“Come and sit down in the steering committee. We’ll iron out the issues.”

Sarawak has disputed Pakatan Harapan’s proposed special cabinet committee, with Abang Johari saying that it should be modeled along the lines of the Inter-Governmental Committee formed in 1961 that looked into the formation of Malaysia.

“It should not be a cabinet committee,” Abang Johari told reporters in Kuching today.

Abang Johari, along with Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal, was included in the committee, along with Sarawak A-G Talat Mahmood Abdul Rashid.

Works Minister Baru Bian, a Sarawakian, is also on the steering committee.

The Malaysian Insight reported that also on the committee are Sarawak chief secretary to the state government Morshidi Ghani, while Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Chong Chieng Jen is on the technical committee.

Liew did not announce the names of those on the technical committee, which The Malaysian Insight reported that he will co-chair with Attorney-General Tommy Thomas.

The minister said a working committee will be decided within a month and will comprise leaders and government officials from the Bornean states.

“The working committee will consist various representatives from Sabah and Sarawak, including government heads of department because it will require staffing and administrative work to be carried out,” Liew said.

“Its function is to iron out all the preliminary issues that the steering committee need not have to consider. The working committee is very important. It will sort out the terms of references for the consideration of the technical committee and the steering committee.

“Generally, the feeling is that we do not want to go back to the historical aspect of the matter because some of the issues (are) much in dispute. We have to go to the core of the matter, namely the implementation of the Malaysia Agreement (1963).”

He said a report will be presented six months from today.

The goal of the three committees is to reform laws and policies to make Sarawak, Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia equal partners in the federation.

“It will be holistic. The entire package will include the oil royalty issues and development for the Bornean states.

“It will very inclusive. It will include so many issues that are very close to the hearts and minds of every Sabahan and Sarawakian.”

The six months is to look at the best way forward to implement the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

The working committee should be set up in a month while meetings would likely be held in Putrajaya, Liew added. – October 10, 2018.