THE Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) is not merely a political agreement but akin to a “marriage contract” that binds Sarawak, Sabah, Singapore, Brunei and Malaya in the formation of Malaysia, said Stakan Assemblyman, Datuk Hamzah Brahim.
He said that the agreement, which saw Sarawak being “proposed to” by Malaya at the time, is likened to a marriage contract with vows (taklik nikah).
Using a metaphor, he described that back then, Sarawak received a marriage proposal with enticing promises, including promises of development, equitable growth, welfare, and other benefits to uplift the people’s standard of living.
“At the time, Malaya made its proposal through the Cobbold Commission (Cobbold Commission Report).
“The main reason for this proposal was that neighbouring Indonesia was also eyeing us for a union.
“So Malaya came and said – ‘You must marry me, and I also want to marry Sabah. If we get married, I will give you a 200-horsepower speedboat, feed you empurau fish and mixed vegetables daily,’ and so on.
“Due to these sweet promises, Sarawak was attracted and eventually agreed to ‘marry’ and form the Federation of Malaysia through a contract called MA63 – an agreement we still hold on to today,” he said.
He said when debating in support of the motion of appreciation to the Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar’s speech in the august House today.
However, he emphasised that even though Sarawak accepted the offer, the state has never forgotten the rights enshrined in the agreement.
“Yes, we were given food and were not left to starve after the marriage. But at the same time, we demand the rights that were agreed upon in the contract.
“Is that wrong? No, it is not wrong!
“This is important because this marriage contract is not just about receiving benefits – it is a mutual agreement.
“What we are demanding today are the rights enshrined in MA63, not new demands,” he said.
He admitted that in the process of claiming these rights, some parties may perceive Sarawak’s actions as pushy or overly demanding, while in truth, the state is merely fighting for the promised rights.
“Today, as the Sarawak Government under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) led by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg continues to pursue these rights, there are parties who are uncomfortable.
“But we want those in Peninsular Malaysia to understand that we are not merely demanding – we are fighting for the rights that were agreed upon in the past,” he stressed.
He explained that this is how he communicates the concept of MA63 to villagers and others – in a simple way that helps the public understand it better.
“I often meet villagers who ask, what is MA63? I believe many of us still do not fully understand what MA63 is.
“So I try to explain it in simple terms – MA63 is an agreement that binds Malaysia together. It is the foundation of our nation’s formation,” he said.
With a strong spirit of unity, he stressed, Sarawak will continue to ensure that the rights fought for under MA63 are respected and implemented for the wellbeing of the people.
