Kota Kinabalu: The Borneo Bloc is essential to protect the rights of Sabahans and Sarawakians effectively, said Chief Secretary to Warisan Members of Parliament, Benedict Sakunil Mansul.
In a statement, he said it is also to ensure the full implementation of MA63 on the position of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners in the Federation is upheld.
Benedict was referring to the assumptions made by political analysts that the idea of the Borneo Bloc mooted by Warisan was the party’s political capital in riding the coattails of GPS’ successes in defending the rights of Sarawak, particularly in relation to the MA63 and oil royalty payment revisions.
“As former Senior Private Secretary to the former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law), the late Datuk VK Liew, I was called upon to explain why these assumptions are entirely wrong and why the Borneo Bloc is of utmost mutual importance to both Sabah and Sarawak.
“During the reign of PH Plus from 2018-2020, VK Liew, who was also the Permanent Chairman of Warisan, was instructed by party President, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal to immediately initiate efforts to examine the implementation of the Malaysian Agreement 1963 (MA63) together with the late Zainnal Ajamain. Culmination of their cooperation were 21 issues relating to the MA63 that had to be resolved.
“In a mere 17 months, the PH Plus Federal Government and Sabah and Sarawak achieved a consensus in relation to 17 of these 21 issues. The remaining four issues could not be resolved owing to the Sheraton Move.
“These efforts to examine the implementation of the MA63 by the Federal Government were spearheaded entirely by Warisan through the ministerial portfolio of VK Liew.
“The success of all three governments in achieving a consensus on 17 of these 21 issues clearly showed that the Sarawak Government and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), who were then in the opposition, have no qualms with the efforts undertaken by Warisan in relation to the MA63,” he said.
“The Sarawak Government led by Chief Minister Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg rejected the Devolution of Power Committee established by Umno/BN which was co-chaired by Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
“This Committee was deemed powerless to the extent that Abang Johari established the Pasukan Khas Negeri (Sarawak) in 2017 which was mandated to discuss with the Federal Government on issues relating to the MA63.
“While leaders of Star, PBS, PBRS, SAPP and Upko attempt their best to convince Sabahans to support them by saying it was only through cooperation with Malayan parties that the issues faced by Sabah, particularly in relation to the MA63, can be resolved.
“Hence, the assumption that Warisan seeks to use the successes of GPS as political capital is completely false as GPS too is aware that the Borneo Bloc is important to fully implement the MA63,” said Benedict.
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