KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has underscored his commitment to fulfilling the promises and agreements made during the formation of Malaysia, including the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), as part of his role as a representative of the "generasi penerus" or the next generation.
"Alhamdulillah, with the cooperation of nearly all my colleagues, most of the outstanding issues have been resolved, and there are a few remaining matters that I assure you are not up for discussion or assessment but rather for immediate implementation," he affirmed.
In his address at the national-level Malaysia Day celebration held at the Stadium Perpaduan in Kuching, which was broadcast on RTM, Anwar emphasised the importance of preventing any perception among the people of Sabah and Sarawak that those in the Peninsula are marginalising them.
He stressed that it is the responsibility of the upcoming generation to honour the commitments made and the agreements signed to solidify the identity of a united and renowned "Bangsa Malaysia."
Earlier in his speech, Anwar said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof had been tasked to expedite and resolve issues surrounding the Pan Borneo Highway project.
The move, he said, was to ensure that the construction of the highway could be completed earlier than the previously set deadline.
"I have tasked Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah to expedite the construction of the Pan Borneo, with no excuses should be given to stall it (the construction).
"We are somehow advancing when it comes to the construction progress in Sarawak, but there are several stages that must be settled, especially in Sabah," he said.
Anwar also stressed the critical need to expedite the completion of the highway, aiming for an earlier timeline than originally established.
"I visited Jakarta (Indonesia) recently. They've planned for a new capital in Kalimantan, which will be named Nusantara."
In light of such regional developments, he emphasised the importance of staying caught up in the development of the Sabah and Sarawak border areas.