THESE days Anifah Aman has more time for family and friends.

The former foreign minister no longer jets all over the world as the Malaysian envoy, and he talks less about world affairs.

All this just means that he can now devote himself to affairs at home, in particular the matter of Sabah’s rights as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

Anifah said party politics is on the backseat as he had quit Umno in September last year. 

“Enough of politics for now. Maybe in a few years or when the time is right. I will tell you when the time is right,” he said to explain his silence since his departure from the party.

Fresh from a meeting with social media friends, Anifah was smartly casual in a green polo shirt, jeans and sandals, his greying hair neatly combed back.

The 65-year-old politician said his three children, a dozen grandchildren and friends took up most of his time nowadays.

“Please, we politicians don’t really like to make our private lives public,” he said when asked how he spent his time with his family.

While he did not want to be drawn into a conversation about his future, he was willing to speak about his work to secure for Sabah its rights as listed in the MA63, and what he expected from the new Pakatan Harapan government.

Sabahans and Sarawakians have lamented the gradual erosion of rights and privileges of the two territories in Borneo, who were initially treated as equal partners to Malaya and Singapore in the formation of Malaysia.

However, a constitutional amendment in the 1970s had downgraded Sabah and Sarawak’s status to merely two states among the 13 states of Malaysia.

“My only concern right now is the future of our children. The time is now right for us to fight for the return of Sabah rights,” said Anifah.

Anifah also expressed concern over the direction the Parti Warisan Sabah government is headed in demanding the return of the state’s rights, saying it is a shame that his group’s accomplishments in the MA63 has been ignored..  

Anifah is the founder of  MySabah, a civil movement comprising individuals from across the political spectrum to review the agreement.
https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/2521

This includes reaching out to leaders of formerly rival parties like Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku president Jeffrey Kitingan, Sabah Progressive Party president Yong Teck Lee and former PKR Tuaran chief Ansari Abdullah.

The underfunded group has written a white paper on the 40% special grant entitlement for Sabah that serves as a reference for the state’s demands.

Anifah co-chaired the National Steering Committee on the devolution of powers with former de facto law minister Nancy Shukri. They reported directly to then prime minister Najib Razak.

Anifah said he had been this close to reaching a deal on some parts on the devolution of powers but Barisan Nasional was toppled on May 9.

“Our hope was that the new state government will pick up from where we had left off.

“It does not matter if they had altered our papers as all the details are there for them to use to discuss with the new Pakatan Harapan government,” he said.

One of the key issues raised in the MySabah paper was Sabah’s right to 40% grant entitlement which Putrajaya had ceased to pay accordingly since 1973.

“It does not matter how much Putrajaya wants the money which is derived from collection and resources in Sabah.  

“They must give us what is due,” he said.

Anifah said he was willing to work with any party to ensure that the state’s rights are returned as envisaged in the MA63.

Instead, he said, the new federal and state governments are starting again from scratch.

“Why not shorten the process and just refer to our earlier reports?” he said, adding that most of the previous committee’s paperwork is with the Sabah attorney-general.

After the May 9 polls, Putrajaya formed a new steering committee chaired by  Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad . The committee will look into the rights of Sabah and Sarawak to autonomy in matters ranging from finance to land.

Federal ministers on the committee are de facto law minister Liew Vui Keong, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali, Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo, Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, Works Minister Baru Bian, International Trade and Industry Minister Darell Leiking, and Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

The other members are Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg, Sabah Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal, Attorney-General Tommy Thomas and chief secretary to the government Ismail Bakar. – February 10, 2019.