Inform UN about MA63 amendment bill, Dayak rep urges

27 Oct 2021

By Wartawan Nabalu News

KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysia Parliament must inform the United Nations (UN) Trusteeship Council of the 1963 Malaysian Agreement amendment bill intended to restore Borneo States as a Self-Governing Territory and pursue self-determination of Indigenous Peoples Treaty Rights, said Dayak International Organisation.

Its permanent representative to UN Andrew Ambrose said the Parliament House Speaker could follow international procedures and report the 2021 MA63 Amendment Bill to the UN Trusteeship Council in New York with immediate effect.

“The bill to amend provisions in the Federal Constitution to be in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) will proceed as scheduled in Parliament on Oct 26 said the Law Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

“However, the second reading of the bill will be moved to another date and not on Oct 28 as initially scheduled. This allows the Attorney-General (AG) to further explain the proposed amendments to members of the Cabinet.

“Malaysia must call upon The Special Committee on Decolonisation to come to Malaysia to ascertain whether the territory of Sarawak and Sabah should return as a Self-Governing Territory or to establish if determined, a new entity according to UN Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples affirmed the right of all people to self-determination or to officially request to become a member of the UN,” he said in a statement.

According to Andrew, once the Cabinet is satisfied with the explanation, only then the second reading is brought to Parliament where then Wan Junaidi as well as Chief Ministers of Sarawak and Sabah should proceed back to the respective State Assemblies before sending a delegation to the the UN Trusteeship seeking an outcome resolution from the five permanent members of the Security Council.

“Although the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili said there is no necessity for Malaysia to submit a report on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) to the UN, I am of a view that NGOs, Indigenous Peoples and Stakeholders should submit our own report to the Human Rights Council,” he stated.