Kitingan To Federal Govt Return What S Ours Restore Ma63 Rights

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Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) president Jeffrey Kitingan has called for a comprehensive review of federal laws he claims have “eaten” into the state’s constitutional powers and financial entitlements under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
In a statement today, the Sabah deputy chief minister I said he welcomed Sarawak governor Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar’s recent remarks criticising federal encroachment into state matters, particularly over oil and environmental legislation.
However, Kitingan stressed that Sabah’s concerns extend far beyond petroleum and environmental issues.
“Other federal laws have also stripped us of powers and revenues that are rightfully ours,” he said.
ADSKitingan cited the Territorial Sea Act 2012, which limits Sabah’s maritime boundary to three nautical miles; the Fisheries Act 1985, which centralises marine licensing under Putrajaya; and the Electricity Supply Act 1990, which places Sabah’s power sector under federal control.
Full restoration, not piecemeal devolution
Although the federal government has partially “devolved” some licensing powers back to Sabah, Kitingan dismissed these moves as cosmetic.
“Devolution leaves Sabah tied to federal law and dependent on federal goodwill. What Sabah needs is not piecemeal devolution but full restoration of our power to legislate, regulate, and collect revenue from our seas,” he said.
The Keningau MP argued that decades of such legal incursions have left Sabah “poorer, weaker, and more dependent”, in direct contradiction to the promises enshrined in MA63.
As such, he urged for:
An immediate joint Sabah-Sarawak review of all federal laws that undermine state rights.
The restoration of full revenue entitlements, including the 40 percent net revenue share owed to Sabah.
Binding parliamentary safeguards to prevent further federal encroachment.
Kitingan added that a proper legal and constitutional study is needed to expose the full scale of federal intrusion into Sabah’s autonomy.
“Our rights are not a favour from Putrajaya. They are obligations already signed, promised, and long overdue,” he declared.
The issue of MA63 compliance has long been a source of tension between Sabah, Sarawak, and the federal government.
Sabah and Sarawak leaders have repeatedly pressed for greater control over oil revenues, taxation, and regulatory powers, arguing that their rights under the 1963 agreement were eroded over the decades by successive federal laws.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration has pledged to address MA63 demands. The government also held a meeting of the MA63 Implementation Action Council two weeks ago.
Anwar said among the matters discussed in the meeting were proposals to increase the number of MPs from Sabah and Sarawak, tourism affairs, authority in appointing judicial commissioners, and the delegation of environmental management powers. - Mkini

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