PANDIKAR Amin Mulia has challenged Shafie Apdal to an open debate on Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the formation of Malaysian, after receiving a little “history lesson” from the Parti Warisan Sabah leader’s over the weekend. 

The Semporna MP had said in Keningau on Sunday that those who thought Sabah and Sarawak were of equal status with the states in the peninsula were “stupid.” 

“I almost coughed up my coffee when I read his statement on the matter. There is no need for me to repeat my stand regarding the formation of Malaysia and MA63,” he said in a statement published on the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club portal today. 

The Dewan Rakyat Speaker yesterday said he wished to debate Shafie so that Sabahans would be able to see who was altering historical facts and stir up hate for the ruling government. 

“I am challenging the Warisan president to debate with me on the issue and prove who is really stupid,” he said. 

At an MA63 forum on November 12, Pandikar said Sabah shared equal status with the other states of Malaysia, citing Chapter 2, Clause 10 of the Inter-governmental report filed under Article 8 of the Malaysia Agreement 1963, which states that the “Former colonies of North Borneo, Sarawak shall be federated with the federated States of Malaya.” 

Shafie had called the statement stupid, saying Sabah should not be compared with states like Perlis as the Sabah, along with Sarawak, was signatory to the MA63 and was therefore an equal partners in the federation.

Pandikar said Shafie should understand federalism and clarify whether  the comparison of Sabah with Perlis was an insult to the people of Perlis. – November 21, 2017.