What is more important is their ability to push for vital demands and safeguard the interests of East Malaysians, said its chairman, Chong Chieng Jen.
Chong, who is also deputy domestic trade and consumer affairs minister, said Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg should be more courageous in facing the prime minister.
“The ball is in his court to make his demands for Sarawak to benefit the state and its people,” Chong told reporters here today.
Chong, who is also Sarawak DAP chairman, said the state government needs to set its terms of reference and agendas for the committee to look into.
He added the state government had the full backing of Sarawakians on the MA63 issue.
Abang Johari recently expressed concern over the imbalance in terms of the composition of members sitting in the committee.
He reckoned that the majority of members in the committee should be from Sabah and Sarawak since they were well-versed and understood the wellbeing of the people in East Malaysia better.
At the moment, only eight representatives — five from Sabah and three from Sarawak — are in the steering committee as compared to eight from West Malaysia.
The committee was initiated by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohammad to implement the provisions enshrined in MA63. Mahathir is the chairman of the committee.
The other committee members are Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo, Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook and Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah.
Leaders from Sabah and Sarawak appointed to the committee include Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Liew Vui Keong, Works Minister Baru Bian, International Trade and Industry Minister Darell Leiking, Abang Johari and Sabah Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal.
Top government officials sitting in the committee comprise of Chief Secretary to the Government Ismail Bakar, Sarawak Attorney-General Talat Mahmood Abdul Rashid and Sabah Attorney-General Zaleha Rose Pandin, among others.