KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia will remain as one country forever, says Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

       He said when the nation was formed in 1963, Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia came together as one.

       "So when we’ve formed a nation, we must make sure this country remains ours, one that gives hope and future to all its citizens regardless of race and religion," he said.

       Hajiji said this in response to Sepanggar MP Datuk Azis Jamman’s debate speech in Parliament recently, where among others, he said “from the United Nations (UN) we came, we can also go back to the UN to solve the Malaysia Agreement 1963 issues”.

       Azis had claimed there seemed to be a growing separation sentiment calling for secession as many were not satisfied with the Federal Government for not fulfilling the terms in the MA63.

       To this, Hajiji said it was vital that the nation remained as one as per the federal constitution, and other issues do not arise.

       He said this after distributing disaster funds to flood victims in Kinarut near here on Friday (Nov 12).

       On the escaped detainees from the Immigration Detention Centre in Papar on Wednesday (Nov 10), he said continuous discussions were held with the Philippines government for deportation purposes.

       Hajiji said issues like the delay in releasing documentation from the Philippines government to the detainees, many of whom were undocumented, contributed to the delays in the deportation process.

       "We hope the Philippines government will give us the cooperation needed to hasten the deportation process," he said.

       In the Wednesday escape, 14 Filipino detainees fled their blocks through a toilet roof at around 3.30am.

       Seven were recaptured by 10.30am while three others were caught subsequently on Thursday and Friday.

       Four more escapees are still at large.