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
PM Lee akan hadir Pemukiman Pemimpin Singapura-Indonesia di Bogor
Ini merupakan permukiman ketujuh dihadiri Lee dan Pemukiman Pemimpin terakhir dengan Joko Widodo yang lebih dikenali sebagai Jokowi.
Strok haba: Kerajaan Thailand nasihatkan kumpulan berisiko tinggi supaya tidak keluar rumah
Kanak-kanak, pesakit dan golongan tua diingatkan mengelak daripada terlibat dalam aktiviti di luar bangunan selepas strok haba meragut sekurang-kurangnya 30 nyawa di Thailand.
KKM kekal keputusan pinda Akta Perubatan 1971
KKM kekal dengan keputusan untuk meminda Akta 50 bagi menangani jurang antara PPP dan Program Sarjana Perubatan tempatan biarpun mendapat bantahan sesetengah pihak.
Malaysia-China bincang perkukuh kerjasama sektor pendidikan tinggi
Sempena sambutan Ulang Tahun ke-50 Hubungan Diplomatik, Malaysia dan China bincang inisiatif strategik perluas dan perkukuh jalinan kerjasama sektor pendidikan tinggi.
Freedom Flotilla to Gaza: Semua delegasi diminta pulang, FFC akan maklumkan tarikh baharu misi
Freedom Flotilla Coalition tidak dapat meneruskan misi penghantaran bantuan ke Gaza untuk kali ini.
Biden rancang untuk berdebat dengan Trump
Sebelum ini, Biden tidak komited untuk berdebat dengan lawannya, Trump.
Pesta Kaamatan 2024 dilancar pada 1 Mei di Ranau, Sabah
Sambutan perayaan Pesta Kaamatan 2024 akan dilancarkan pada 1 Mei di Ranau dan diadakan sambutan di peringkat daerah, di Sarawak dan Semenanjung.
Khairulnizam layak ke Sukan Olimpik Paris 2024
Khairulnizam Mohd Afendy sah akan mengiringi Nur Shazrin Mohd Latif ke Sukan Olimpik Paris 2024, juga merupakan penampilan keempat berturut-turut di temasya berprestij itu.
Musibah banjir buka peluang 'rezeki lebih' usahawan F&B melalui IPR
Musibah banjir yang melanda Johor tahun lepas membuka peluang rezeki baharu kepada usahawan makanan dan minuman, Haida Abdul Rahman.
Mohd Azizulhasni tekad dikalungkan pingat emas di Paris
Azizulhasni tekad untuk 'dikalungkan' pingat emas pertama Malaysia di Sukan Olimpik Paris 2024 pada penampilan terakhirnya di temasya itu.
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