KUALA LUMPUR: The recent remarks made by Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli that Sarawak to be guided and bound by the Attorney General Chamber's advice on issues related to the interpretation of boundaries have raised alarm across the state, a top Sarawak United People's Party leader said.
Datuk Lo Khere Chiang said any attempt to undermine or reinterpret the boundaries established by the Malaysia Agreement 1963 is not just a political misstep but also a direct threat to the very fabric of the nation.
The SUPP deputy secretary-general reminded all that MA63 is not a mere formality but also the foundational agreement that brought Malaysia into existence.
"For the minister to issue a statement casting doubt on Sarawak's established boundaries and suggesting ongoing disputes with federal authorities is nothing short of a betrayal of that sacred pact," the Batu Kitang assemblyman said in a statement to the Borneo Post.
Sarawak's boundaries, including its continental shelf, said Lo, had been defined and protected by law long before this recent controversy.
He also pointed out that the Sarawak (Alteration of Boundaries) Order 1954 and subsequent legislation firmly established these borders.
"To question these legal frameworks now is not just legally unsound but blatantly disregarding the spirit of MA63.
"Let's be clear. MA63 is not negotiable – it is a binding agreement that defines Malaysia's very existence," he said.
He also described the recent attempts by the federal government to reinterpret these boundaries in a way that undermines Sarawak's rights as a "dangerous precedent."
Lo added that the Sarawak government has stated categorically that the boundaries of the state are not a matter under discussion through the MA63 platform.
"The boundaries of Sarawak, including the Continental Shelf, its rights therein, cannot be subject to any negotiation. This is not open for debate.
"The MA63 agreement is sacrosanct, and Sarawakians will not stand idly by while our rights are questioned or disregarded.
"We call on the Economy Minister to heed this warning: Respect MA63, or face the very real possibility of eroding whatever is left of the unity of Malaysia," he said.
Rafizi had recently said that the proposed legislative framework for the carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) industry would adhere to the MA63 platform's ongoing discussions on state boundaries. (hyperlink: https://www.nst.com.my/business/economy/2024/08/1087993/ccus-legislative...)
He added that the development of the CCUS framework for Malaysia will be guided and bound by the Attorney General Chamber's advice, including on issues related to the interpretation of boundaries between federal and state that has been outlined in the Continental Shelf Act (1966), Exclusive Economic Zone Act (1984) and Territorial Sea Act (2012).