Kota kinabalu: The settlement of claims under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) requires careful consideration of the Federal Constitution and must be supported by a two-thirds majority in Parliament, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He acknowledged that several MA63-related claims from Sabah remain unresolved but emphasised that the MADANI Government had made more progress than the previous administration in addressing related issues.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim highlighted the challenges in addressing the demands from Sabah, acknowledging that while some claims remain unmet, the current administration has engaged more actively in discussions compared to its predecessors. He posed rhetorical questions regarding which government is actively supporting Sabah’s claims, noting the involvement of past leaders who had fewer discussions on the matter.

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of constitutional considerations and the necessity of securing a two-thirds majority in Parliament to settle the claims under MA63. He underscored the need to weigh all factors, emphasizing that the demands from Sabah are not just about making requests, but also about understanding the constitutional framework and garnering the required support to move forward.

Anwar shared these insights during a breakfast and ‘Sembang Santai’ programme with Sabah media practitioners. The event was attended by notable figures such as Sabah Journalists Association (SJA) president Mariah Doksil, Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, and other prominent editors from leading Sabah newspapers.

Previously, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who chairs the Technical Committee of the Malaysia Agreement Implementation Action Council 1963 (JKTMTPM63), noted that the MADANI Government had successfully resolved nine MA63 demands, while the previous government had addressed four.