“If the rights were accidentally impinged on, we will return them,” he said to the applause of the more than 5,000 Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) members at the party’s 32nd delegates’ conference today.

The struggle to see the full implementation of the MA63, he said is something that is shared by Barisan Nasional (BN) and not only PBS.

“I share your sentiments. Don’t worry if you want to talk about MA63. Just say it. I won’t put anyone under the Internal Security Act (ISA). Someone else did that, but that is not me.

“Just ask (PBS deputy president) Maximus Ongkili. He ‘rested’ for 60 days under the ISA,” he said, referring to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad who made use of the law in the 90s to stop then opposition PBS leaders from talking about Sabah’s rights.

He also ridiculed Mahathir’s promise to revisit MA63 recently when the Pakatan Harapan chairman could have done it a long time ago during his 22-year tenure as the country’s prime minister.

“When you want to do something, do it when you are in power. Not when you are out of power and then you say it. Sabahans must take note of this,” Najib said.

Nevertheless, the prime minister asked for patience and to give him time to identify which part of MA63 is not fulfilled yet especially because many people interpret the agreement in many ways.

He urged the people to remain with BN because it is the only party that can fulfil the people’s aspirations.

“The opposition are in complete disarray that they could not even adhere to their own parties’ constitution and it would be unimaginable what would happen if they are given the reins of the nation’s administration,” he said.

Najib also reminded the people how the current administration had paid a lot of attention to Sabah and Sarawak through the increase of development funds to the two states.

“When I planned Budget 2018, I wanted it in a way that the development gap between Sabah and Sarawak and the peninsula can be eliminated. It will take time surely, but remember, Rome was not built in a day.

“Someone who was the prime minister for 22 years did nothing and now we are channelling funds to Sabah and Sarawak and the allocation is always bigger,” he said.

Najib also paid tribute to PBS outgoing president Joseph Pairin Kitingan and thanked the veteran politician for his immense contributions to Sabah, BN and the country as a whole.

He said he was confident Pairin’s successor Maximus Ongkili would be able to shoulder the responsibility and continue to lead the party and become one of BN’s most valuable partners in Sabah.

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