Special State Assembly Session Tomorrow To Pass Ma63 Related Enactments

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Against the backdrop of political turmoil in Sabah, a special state assembly session is expected to be held tomorrow, and all state assemblypersons attending the meeting have been advised to portray a mature approach to ensure two important enactments are passed.
Sabah’s second Finance Minister Masidi Manjun said the special state assembly was to approve and gazette the state Bills for gas supply and the setting up of an energy commission in Sabah so as to take over all regulatory power for onshore gas supply in the state.
Maturity in politics was also vital to pursue the restoration of Sabah's rights as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) which has long been the aspiration of the people in the state, he added.
"The special assembly is an effort to carry out our responsibilities as state assemblypersons to ensure the two enactments are passed tomorrow because it is related to giving autonomy and power to Sabah to manage its own affairs.
“Tomorrow will see the initial results of a long-term discussion and struggle between the state and the federal government to give Sabah autonomy in accordance with the aspirations and agreement of the MA63," he said.
Masidi (above) was speaking to reporters after attending a two-hour meeting between Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor and state assemblypersons allied to the state government at Sri Gaya which is the official residence of the chief minister, today.
On Dec 21 last year, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the federal government was ready to implement MA63 and offer certain powers to Sabah and hand over the gas supply regulatory power from the federal government through Petronas to Sabah.
Masidi who is also the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) secretary-general said the meeting between the chief minister and state assemblypersons today had nothing to do with the political turmoil in Sabah.
"Nothing on the political issue. Today we decided to take leave from politics. There was no discussion on a cabinet reshuffle in the state. Sometimes we need to focus our attention on responsibilities as assemblypersons," he said.
Elaborating on Anwar’s visit to Sabah to meet the assemblypersons, Masidi said he welcomed the initiative.
"We do not have any expectations. We respect and wish to register our appreciation because, despite his busy schedule and official visit to Jakarta, he has decided to come to Sabah and meet all the state assemblymen,” he added.
On Saturday, before leaving for Jakarta for a two-day official visit to Indonesia, the prime minister had promised to meet all assemblypersons in Sabah, upon his return.
- Bernama

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