THE Sarawak state assembly today unanimously agreed to form a consultative committee to draw up and advice Sarawak representatives in the Special Cabinet Committee on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

State Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sports Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, in moving the motion, said the committee would provide crucial input for the advancement of Sarawak’s aspirations to “safeguard the special interests, rights and position of Sarawak as enshrined in the MA63 and the federal constitution”.

He said the committee is also expected to meet expectations for greater autonomy and devolution of powers to the state.

The Asajaya assemblyman said the unanimous support for the motion could be seen as “the strongest message possible that in the matter of the rights and interests of Sarawakians, the people of Sarawak firmly stand as one”.

“Bearing in mind, the subject matters under the purview of the MA63 Committee relate to the special rights and position of Sarawak which is very close to the heart of all Sarawakians, it is imperative that a mechanism be put in place to ensure the views and aspirations of Sarawakians are incorporated into the representations to be submitted on behalf of the state to the MA63 Committee,” he said.

The committee is expected to be made up of 14 assemblymen from across the political divide.

It is modelled along the lines of the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) and its sub-committees formed in 1962 by the British government which had made recommendations to safeguard the special interests of Sarawak and North Borneo (now Sabah) prior to the formation of Malaysia.

“All Sarawakians would want, indeed demand, their representatives put forward what is in the best interest of all Sarawakians.

“This is irrespective of political allegiance. Consequently, it is my view that the mechanism to determine and agree the representations made to the MA63 Committee to safeguard the special interests and position of the state and to obtain greater autonomy would be through the establishment of an advisory panel under Standing Order 89 and Article 24 of the State Constitution,” Karim said.

Ba Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian suggested the committee make periodic reports to the assembly to ensure all members are aware of the deliberations, proceedings and advice given to the representatives on the MA63 committee.

The debate on the motion took the whole day as a record 31 assemblymen spoke in support of it. – November 6, 2018.