55 land lots to be return to Sabah, Sarawak

19 Julai 2023

By Wartawan Nabalu News

PUTRAJAYA: In a move to honour the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), the federal government has agreed to return 55 land lots that were acquired from the Sabah and Sarawak governments, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

He said the decision involved 52 land lots owned by Sarawak and three owned by Sabah, which were not developed by the federal government.

"With the return of the land, the two states will be able to develop it for their own benefit," he told a press conference after chairing the MA63 technical committee meeting here on Tuesday.

Fadilah said, many land lots in Sabah and Sarawak were acquired by the Federal Government but were not developed.

"These land lots are no longer used by the Federal Government. For safety, health (reasons) and so on, they need to be handed back to the state governments," he said.

He added that the two state governments would repay the compensation that was paid when the federal government took over the land.

Fadillah, who is also Plantation and Commodities Minister, said that Sarawak had requested a total of 219 land lots to be returned, while Sabah had asked for five.

He said the technical committee would continue to discuss the matter with the relevant agencies and ministries to expedite the process.

He also said that the committee had discussed several other issues related to MA63, such as education, health, tourism and public service.