WORK on restoring the status of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners in the Malaysian Federation had already begun a month ago, but will take a bit more time to be completed, said federal law minister Liew Vui Keong.

“It will take a bit of time and we must have patience for greater things to happen for us all,” said Liew.

“I can assure all of you that work has started earnestly since I had been entrusted with the task over a month ago and let’s unite in our efforts and prayers in the matter.”

Liew said that critics would certainly raise doubts over Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Malaysia Day announcement last night that Putrajaya was committed to ensuring that Sabah and Sarawak be accorded their rights as equal partners as per the Malaysia Agreement (MA63).

“As we all know, we won’t go very far if we continue bickering about it as this will weaken us and derail us from achieving our goals,” he said.

Studies on the MA63 have been initiated by the Pakatan Harapan federal government as part of efforts to implement the terms of the agreement, which include according special rights, autonomy and revenue-sharing to both states in Borneo.

A special reviewing committee has been set up in Sabah and Sarawak to negotiate further the implementation of the MA63 with Putrajaya. – September 17, 2018.