KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs), Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, today expressed his appreciation to senators, including those from Peninsular Malaysia, who have actively raised issues related to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) during Dewan Negara sittings.
He described their involvement as an important effort in elevating the issue as a national agenda item, and enhancing public understanding of the foundation of Malaysia’s formation.
“I find it very encouraging that more people are willing to discuss the MA63 issue, and we have managed to elevate it as a national agenda item. Some of these senators are not from Borneo, but from Peninsular Malaysia.
“This is a positive development for us to begin giving proper meaning to the issues related to MA63, which form the core of Malaysia’s establishment,” he said when winding up the debate today on the motion of thanks for the royal address for his portfolio in the Dewan Negara.
Mustapha said that, to improve the official MA63 negotiation platform, the government has undertaken various initiatives, including the establishment of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 Implementation Action Council, chaired by the Prime Minister.
To date, 13 of the 29 matters discussed have been resolved, including nine finalised during the MADANI government administration.
He said the government has also developed a Dashboard portal on the implementation status of Matters under MA63, which was launched on Jan 28, and integrated online via the official portal of the Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Division (BHESS).
To date, more than 6,000 users have accessed the portal.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), M. Kulasegaran, during his winding-up speech, said the establishment of Ombudsman Malaysia will create a single agency to replace the Public Complaints Bureau (BPA) and the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC), through a well-planned transition process.
He said under the new model, Ombudsman Malaysia will be an independent federal statutory body, with autonomy in appointments, administration, investigation of complaints, and the authority to initiate investigations on its own accord.
“The Ombudsman Bill, which is currently being drafted, will provide clear legal authority covering the scope of enforcement powers, as well as adequate financial and human resource provisions to enable the institution to function effectively, independently and with integrity,” he said. – BERNAMA
