A new parliamentary initiative called "Friends of BHESS" will be established to help elevate the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) into a national narrative, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud.
Welcoming the consensus reached between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg during the MA63 Implementation Action Council (MTPMA63) meeting here, Mustapha said MA63 forms a core foundation of the Federation of Malaysia that requires nationwide backing rather than concern from only the two Borneo states.
To pursue the initiative, he said he will work alongside the Parliament Backbenchers Caucus (BBC) to launch the platform under the Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Division (BHESS).
The platform will facilitate broader cross-regional and cross-party discussions and information sharing among Members of Parliament and Senators on critical issues requiring parliamentary backing.
Mustapha added that the move aligns with the Prime Minister's announcement that the Federal Cabinet has agreed in principle to increase parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak, stressing that the necessary legislative processes require the joint support of lawmakers from Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak.
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