KOTA KINABALU: A total of 29 Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) matters have been deliberated to date, with 13 resolved so far, reflecting steady progress under the current administration, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud (
pic) in his New Year message on Thursday.
He extended New Year greetings to Malaysians, particularly those in Sabah and Sarawak, expressing hope for continued peace, harmony and shared prosperity in 2026.
Mustapha said the Federal Government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim remained committed to safeguarding Sabah and Sarawak’s rights and development in line with the spirit of the MA63.
He noted that MA63 discussions formally began with the Devolution of Authority Committee in 2016 to address issues raised by the Sabah and Sarawak governments.
The process was strengthened in 2018 through the Cabinet Special Committee to Review the Implementation of MA63, supported by a technical committee involving legal authorities.
In 2020, the Special Council on MA63 was established with the Prime Minister’s Department’s Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Division serving as secretariat to coordinate negotiations.
Under the Madani Government, Mustapha said the MA63 framework was further reinforced through the formation of the MA63 Implementation Action Council chaired by the Prime Minister himself.
Of the 13 matters resolved, nine were achieved under the Madani administration, which he described as the strongest record so far in advancing MA63 implementation.
He said negotiations were ongoing for the remaining 16 matters, with continuous engagement involving federal and state agencies, industry players, academia and civil society.
Mustapha added that a public MA63 status dashboard, including updates on Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement, is expected to be accessible by the end of this month to improve transparency.
