It is time to review the Malaysia Agreement signed 50 years ago so that the nation is able to move forward, according to two academics speaking in the context of both Sarawak and Sabah.
Dr Jeniri Amir, a senior lecturer in Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) said that a number of points contained in the agreements in Sarawak were no longer relevant.
“We need to move forward and enter phase two (of nationhood). A portion out of the 18 points for Sarawak are no longer relevant and among the reasons is that time has passed or some of them have already been achieved," said Jeniri(bottom).
The political analyst gave examples on the points in the agreement which talked about language, the constitution, position of state leaders and borneonisation which are no longer an issue in this day and age.
The Malaysia Agreement, which includes 20 points in Sabah and 18 in Sarawak respectively, were the conditions agreed upon in 1963 when Sabah, Sarawak and Tanah Melayu merged to form Malaysia.
The points contained within the agreements are often raised by critics who claim that the rights of Sabahans and Sarawakians, as enshrined under the agreements, have been ignored over the years.
“The one that often becomes an issue is on immigration where those from Peninsular require permission to enter Sabah and Sarawak and a permit to work here,” said Jeniri.
He said that the original intent of having this immigration cause is to protect the leaders of the states, which were seen to be behind. “But my question today is, even after 50 years, do we still need to defend that in the context of 1Malaysia?”
“It’s as if we are not confident with ourselves... that we cannot compete equally with those outside, this is the kind of thinking of people 50 years ago,” he said.
Jeniri also said that cases of politicians and NGO leaders being barred from entering the two states are also wrong as it goes against the original spirit of the clause. "Now it is being used for political agendas," he said.
Jeniri said that an aspiration for Sabah and Sarawakians are still touch on development where people still feel that the states are lagging behind when compared to Peninsular.
Political analyst from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Dr Zaini Othman (bottom) said that such feelings of being marginalised can be addressed by reviewing the contents of the Malaysia Agreement.
"(This is) so that the question of bias in Sabah region can be fixed and the state can be absorbed into mainstream national development," said Zaini.
"I believe the federal and state governments have taken the initiative in this regard, but it will take time to ensure that these problems can be fully addressed," he added.
However, Zaini said that the government seems to have done more, citing examples where more political leaders from Sabah being appointed as cabinet ministers and in terms of education, more universities being established.
However, Zaini also admitted that the fulfilling all the points in the Sabah agreement is not an easy task and there were multiple aspects that needed to be looked at. - Teoh El Sen and Arfa Yunus.
Astro Awani
Sun Sep 15 2013
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: 'DAP ada calon layak terdiri daripada Melayu, Cina, India'
Ng Sze Han berkata pihaknya mempunyai ramai calon yang layak bertanding terdiri daripada pelbagai kaum termasuk Melayu, Cina dan India.
Pelajar maut rentas desa: 'Guru sedaya upaya cuba selamatkan Nuqman'
Masyarakat diharap tidak menyebarkan maklumat salah berhubung kematian pelajar di sebuah sekolah menengah ketika menyertai kejohanan merentas desa pada Jumaat.
Awas taktik penipuan beri hadiah percuma ke rumah
Orang ramai diingatkan supaya tidak mudah terpedaya dengan pemberian hadiah percuma dari rumah ke rumah, yang dipercayai menjadi taktik terbaharu sindiket penipuan.
Beras di tapak pelupusan sampah di Temerloh tidak selamat dimakan
Kementerian Pertanian dan Keterjaminan Makanan (KPKM) jelaskan beras yang didakwa dibuang di tapak pelupusan sampah di Temerloh, Pahang didapati telah rosak dan tidak sesuai serta tidak selamat untuk dimakan.
Pelajar sekolah meninggal dunia ketika merentas desa
Seorang pelajar lelaki sebuah sekolah menengah di sini rebah sebelum disahkan meninggal dunia ketika menyertai kejohanan merentas desa di sekolahnya pada Jumaat.
Batik Air gantung operasi ke Istanbul bermula 1 Mei 2024
Menerusi satu kenyataan pada Jumaat, syarikat penerbangan itu berkata keputusan itu dibuat sebagai respons terhadap situasi di Timur Tengah yang memberi kesan kepada laluan penerbangan Batik Air.
Pertimbangan pelayaran misi Break the Siege Of Gaza Freedom Flotilla
Misi Break the Siege Of Gaza Freedom Flotilla akan tetap diteruskan di sebalik konflik terbaharu antara Israel dan Iran.
Perkara itu disahkan Jurucakap Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), ann wright pada sidang media di Istanbul Turki.
Wartawan kami, Syaff Shukri yang menyertai misi itu ada perincian.
Perkara itu disahkan Jurucakap Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), ann wright pada sidang media di Istanbul Turki.
Wartawan kami, Syaff Shukri yang menyertai misi itu ada perincian.
Penipuan SMS 'syarikat telco' dikesan kembali aktif
Taktik penipuan melalui khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS) yang kononnya dihantar daripada syarikat telekomunikasi terkenal dikesan kembali aktif sejak awal tahun ini.
Polis cari saksi kemalangan maut di Bagan Lalang
Polis sedang mengesan individu atau saksi yang mempunyai maklumat berhubung kemalangan maut membabitkan dua buah kenderaan yang berlaku di persimpangan lampu isyarat Bagan Lalang, pada Rabu.
Lelaki dipenjara dua tahun, cederakan adik kandung guna pisau pemotong daging
Seorang lelaki dihukum penjara dua tahun oleh Mahkamah Sesyen Selayang kerana mencederakan adiknya menggunakan sebilah pisau pemotong daging.
10 tembok perlu diruntuh pastikan keberkesanan slogan 'Segulai Sejalai'
Sepuluh tembok perlu diruntuh bagi memastikan keberkesanan cogan kata perpaduan untuk seluruh negara 'Segulai Sejalai' seperti yang diumumkan oleh Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim semalam.
Manifesto realistik, bukan retorik
Manifesto yang ditawarkan itu juga haruslah spesifik, pragmatik dan realistik untuk dicapai dalam waktu tertentu.
PRN Sarawak: GPS dijangka menang, namun jumlah kerusi...
Walaupun GPS baru ditubuhkan beberapa tahun lepas, namun ia dianggotai parti yang cukup matang.
Sarawak Memilih: Rekod GPS bukti manifesto mampu dicapai - Jeniri
Ada beberapa pembangunan seperti pembinaan lebuh raya dan jambatan telah pun ditunaikan sebelum ini.
Tukar perdana menteri bukan jaminan COVID-19 berakhir - Penganalisis
Jeniri berkata, hal ehwal negara, rakyat dan usaha menangani pandemik seharusnya berada di hadapan berbanding isu lain.
Kerajaan PN perlu segera santuni tuntutan Sabah dan Sarawak - Jeniri Amir
Paling penting sekarang adalah segala janji yang telah diberikan kepada rakyat Sabah dan Sarawak harus ditunai tanpa berlengah.
Pelantikan ahli Jawatankuasa Bebas Darurat daripada pelbagai latar belakang, bertepatan - Pakar
Ketokohan yang dimiliki ahli jawatankuasa itu, sudah pasti mereka mampu menggalas tanggungjawab yang diberikan sebaik mungkin.
Dominasi ahli politik veteran halang pemimpin muda daripada menyerlah?
Penganalisis politik, Dr Syahruddin Awang Ahmad berkata fenomena dominasi 'kuda tua politik' ini berkait rapat dengan pengaruh elit politik dan bersifat paternalistik.
Lihat sentimen rakyat sebelum pertimbang isytihar darurat - Dr Jeniri
Pemimpin politik harus melihat sentimen rakyat sebelum sebarang keputusan untuk mengisytiharkan darurat dilakukan.
Abang Jo terima kunjungan Sarawak Media Group
Abang Johari menerima kunjungan hormat Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif baharu Sarawak Media Group (SMG) Suhaimi Sulaiman