Sabah and Sarawak affairs minister Maximus Ongkili said the MA63. as a foundation agreement, provided a reference point and basis to discuss issues that could benefit both states.

“The Malaysia Agreement and the Malaysia Act was also tabled in the UK House of Commons, the federal Parliament, as well as the Sabah and Sarawak state legislative assemblies,” he said in a statement here today.

“If we want to establish a new agreement, it needs to be tabled in Parliament and both assemblies for approval.”

Pandikar had said at a forum that MA63 was a deal made by past leaders, and could be a basis for demands that would benefit Sabah and Sarawak.

However, leaders of both states should forge a “new deal” which would create equal status between the Borneo states and Peninsular Malaysia.

This deal must include payment of a higher petroleum royalty rate for both states, which must be discussed with national oil company Petronas.

Ongkili, who is Parti Bersatu Sabah president, said a federation must have an agreement as a starting point in any discussion.

“Meaning, in this instance, no MA63, no foundation reference point.”

“Of course, we do need to make new deals with Putrajaya but it must be based on MA63,” said the Kota Marudu MP.

He said there were sufficient right-minded leaders in the federal government as well as in Sabah and Sarawak who are committed “to preserve, strengthen and reinvent the Malaysian Federation”.