KUCHING: A group of lawyers will file a case to reclaim the state’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) next year.
Spokesman for the legal team and former Padungan assemblyman Dominique Ng said they had initially wanted to bring the case to court this year.
The decision, however, was delayed due to the announcement concerning the setting up of a Special Cabinet Committee for the MA63, he told online portal DayakDaily yesterday.
He said for now, at least 12 lawyers had pledged to help and the group was in the midst of drafting the case.
Ng, who is also a lawyer, said the team was waiting for what would transpire from the formation of the committee which held its maiden meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.
He said, “With the apparent lack of positive results from that meeting, the pro bono legal team will proceed with what has been planned.”
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad chaired the meeting. Also present were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law) Datuk LiewVui Keong, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Works Minister Baru Bian, Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Darell Leiking, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Sarawak delegation included Assistant Minister for Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali and Deputy Speaker Datuk Gerawat Jala while the Sabah delegation included State Attorney General Datuk Zaleha Rose Pandin and former Sabah Attorney General Datuk Stephen Foo.
On the locus standi of the legal team to file the case next year, Ng said five Sarawakians would come forward to represent the whole state.
Ng and former Batu Lintang assemblyman Voon Lee Shan, who is also a lawyer, first announced the formation of the legal team to reclaim the state’s rights over oil and gas sometime in June this year.
The team initially had seven lawyers but now has grown to 12 and maybe more will come.
