BY NATASHA JEE & SHARIFAH NONG-JASIMA
KOTA SAMARAHAN: The Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) remains central to nation-building and must continue to guide the development of Malaysia.
Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Professor Datuk Dr Neilson Ilan Mersat, said the agreement laid down the foundation and guarantees for Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore at the time of their entry into the federation.
“MA63 is an important subject in the formation of the Federation of Malaysia and should serve as a guiding framework for building the nation.
“As we all know, this matter has been widely debated in the media, from various perspectives both domestically and internationally,” he said.
“At the same time, many citizens – particularly the younger generation – still lack a full understanding of the significance of MA63.
“Therefore, open and continuous discussion is necessary to ensure that history is not forgotten or misinterpreted.”
Neilson said this during the Statesman Speech delivered by Head of State, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, titled ‘Malaysia Agreement 1963: The Key to Federal Harmony’ at UNIMAS today.
He noted that the nation-building process is not without challenges, citing issues such as racial diversity then, economic disparity, and threats to national identity posed by globalisation.
“However, what matters most today is for the federation to preserve unity, harmony, and sovereignty,” he said.
Meanwhile, the lecture, moderated by Neilson, also highlighted the prominent role of Wan Junaidi, who is well-versed in MA63, particularly in ensuring that MA63 was incorporated into the Federal Constitution during his tenure as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law).
The lecture was also attended by Wan Junaidi’s wife, Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, and more than 500 guests, including lecturers, students and other dignitaries.
In his two-hour speech, Wan Junaidi also touched on several key sub-topics, covering historical background, the process of Malaysia’s formation, the essence and key provisions of MA63, as well as issues related to the restoration and empowerment of state rights.
The lecture later concluded with an interactive dialogue session with the audience.
