FEDERAL and state leaders of Sarawak and Sabah should embrace the spirit of Malaysia’s founding fathers and their concept of federalism to resolve the disputes the Borneo states have, Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg said last night.

“Sarawak and Sabah only want the eroded rights, whether they were taken intentionally by design or accidentally, returned.

“That’s it. Nothing more and nothing less,” Abang Johari said in his Malaysia Day address in Sibu last night.

“From Sarawak’s perspective, the country should return to the fundamentals that have been laid as the foundation of this country, like those stipulated in the federal constitution, the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) report.

“I am confident that the acceptance of these fundamentals will enhance national unity, rather than the opposite.

“Branding Sarawak as a parochial state will not help in uniting the country.”

Abang Johari also said through the “meeting of minds in a civil and respectful environment”, Sarawak is also confident and looking forward to “solutions which will see no losers”.

“More importantly, no derogation of constitutional rights, special safeguards and status accorded to the states of Sabah and Sarawak as agreed by the nation’s founding fathers and embedded 57 years ago in the federal constitution,” he said.

The chief minister also said the country is experiencing challenging but exciting times as a more knowledgeable public is closely scrutinising both the state and federal governments.

He said there is no escaping as the people are fully aware of their rights, as well as their state’s, and are demanding that governments in the federation respect and ensure non-transgression of such freedoms.

“I am glad to see that the differences between the federal and the state governments, the Sarawak government in particular, are managed through consultation mechanisms provided in the constitution or through an amicable approach acceptable to both parties based on the rule of law.”

Abang Johari said the ongoing negotiation to resolve the disputes in accordance to the terms of the Malaysia Agreement amplifies it.

He pointed, among many, to the ongoing talks with the National Financial Council on the federal government’s financial obligations under the concurrent list, reviewing the special financial grants to the state, the talks between him and the prime minister on oil royalty, petroleum cash payments and other oil and gas disputes and transferring to the state powers to enact labour laws.

Abang Johari said the Sarawak government had adopted a “win-win” approach to resolving the disputes because “a confrontation will bring no benefit to anybody”.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had earlier announced a special council to address outstanding issues concerning Sabah, Sarawak and the Malaysia Agreement that had yet to be resolved when the Pakatan Harapan fell in February. – September 17, 2020.