KUCHING: Using “Borneo States” in reference to Sarawak and Sabah is a long overdue move that fixes the perspective of the Malaysian Agreement 1963 (MA63), says Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

       The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Sarawak (PBB) vice-president said after the formation of Malaysia in 1963, Sabah and Sarawak had been wrongly deemed as just another two states instead of being equal partners with Peninsular Malaysia.

       He said the Federal Constitution specifically stated that Malaysia comprised Peninsular Malaysia, the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak, and Singapore, which later left the federation.

       “But through the years, somehow, Sabah and Sarawak are seen as one of the other states, in the same category.

       “When Sarawak helped form Malaysia, it only went into agreement with one Peninsular Malaysia. We never signed any agreement with the other states.

       “So this amendment (to refer to Sarawak and Sabah as the Borneo states) will put us back with the right perspective,” he said here yesterday.

       Abdul Karim also expressed hope that future governments would not reverse the amendments.

       “This is a long overdue decision. I hope we never go back there again. Hopefully, no future prime minister will do that again,” he said.

       Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib told the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday that Sarawak and Sabah would no longer be known as “East Malaysia” but as the “Borneo States” following amendments to the Federal Constitution.

       On Nov 3, the government tabled a Bill for the first reading to amend the Federal Constitution to restore the position of Sabah and Sarawak in line with MA63.

       Apart from Article 1(2) of the Constitution, other amendments include Article 160(2) to include designating Sept 16 as Malaysia Day.Also significant are amendments to Article 161A to confer the status of a native to the offspring of a native married to a non-native in Sarawak.

       The amendments are expected to be passed in the current Parliament meeting which ends on Dec 16.

       Sarawak PKR meanwhile said the decision to revert to “Borneo States” had been something Pakatan Harapan had long fought for.

       “That has always been Pakatan’s intention. In fact, when Pakatan tabled the amendment on MA63 when it was the government, it was Gabungan Parti Sarawak which rejected it.

       “The restoration of the term Borneo States for Sarawak and Sabah is what we deserved all this while,” said Bandar Kuching PKR chief Dominique Ng.

       Julau MP Larry Sng described the amendments as a timely change to reflect the spirit of Malaysia.

       “I’m agreeable to this change since the word ‘Borneo’ precedes that of ‘Malaysia’.

       “So it is certainly more relevant to people from Sabah and Sarawak,” said Sng, who is also deputy president of newly-formed Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM).

       Former Sabah state secretary Tan Sri Simon Sipaun, however, questioned the rationale for referring to Sabah and Sarawak as “Borneo States”, saying such terms had little meaning for locals in the states.

       “It doesn’t affect the unity of the country. It doesn’t matter what you call the states, but how you treat the states.

       “The main issue Putrajaya should address is the allocation for development in Sabah,” he said.