MALAYSIA Agreement 1963 must be effectively implemented, particularly the recommendations of the Inter-Governmental Committee Report, for Malaysia to move on from the bitter acrimony over the agreement, a deputy dean said today. 

Arnold Puyok, the deputy dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), said issues arising from the implementation of the agreement should be addressed if the country wants to move forward “in the context of new Malaysia”. 

Puyok, also a leading political analyst, said before that step could be taken, the state and federal governments must identify which jurisdictions must be returned to the state or remain under federal control.

He suggested the formation of a federal-state relationship committee to “systematically” monitor the implementation of federal and state policies and to ensure that the responsibilities of the federal and state departments do not overlap.

Puyok, in the Yayasan Perpaduan Sarawak webinar Navigating the Impacts of Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) on National Integrity today, said any attempt to revisit the MA63 must be done with the aim of restructuring the Malaysia federalism “in which the states are empowered to make decisions on their own according to their uniqueness and needs”.

“The formation of the MA63 Special Cabinet Committee is commendable but to ensure the sustainability of the Malaysian federalism, the committee should expand its scope to look into the aspect of decentralisation of federal power,” he said.

Puyok said there is evidence linking decentralisation with good governance and economic growth. 

He also said the narrative of MA63 in the “new Malaysia” should be about strengthening the spirit of the Malaysian federalism, creating a sense of belonging to the nation and increasing a sense of pride towards our nationhood as Malaysians.

“MA63 is about solidifying and strengthening the relationship between people of peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak,” he said. 

One consideration the federal government could make is to consider choosing any state in the peninsula as a host for the Malaysia Day celebration. 

He said it should not only be Sarawak or Sabah hosting it. 

“By doing this, we acknowledge the fact that MA63 would only be possible with the merging of three distinct territories to form Malaysia,” he said. 

“We often hear people saying, ‘there would be no Malaysia without Sabah and Sarawak’. 

“Similarly, without Malaya as one of the MA63 signatories, Malaysia would not have been possible.” 

He said the younger generation yearns for a better Malaysia – a Malaysia that belongs to all, irrespective of race, religion and regional origin. 

“They dream of a Malaysia where they can explore their talent and contribute to the development of their country,” he said. 

“The new Malaysia is a promising start to realise the aspirations of our founding fathers through MA63.” – August 12, 2021.