19 Items Under MA63 Resolved - DPM Fadillah

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 7 (Bernama) -- A total of 19 items under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) have been resolved to date, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

Fadillah, who also chairs the MA63 Implementation Action Council, said they include the handover of Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) to the state government through the Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS).

“Although the entity has been handed over, the federal government continues to provide support to Sabah with an allocation of RM3.54 billion in electricity subsidies until 2030,” he added.

He said this at a public dialogue held in conjunction with the closing ceremony of the Rancakkan MADANI Bersama Malaysiaku Programme here today.  Also present were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Fadillah noted, however, that several remaining items have yet to be finalised due to differing legal interpretations, including issues related to the Federal Constitution and state laws, which require further detailed examination.

“Because this is a legal matter, views at the state level may differ from those at the federal level. So it is not easy for us to resolve. There are still a few issues pending, but the majority have already been settled,” he said.

MA63 refers to the agreement that unified the Federation of Malaya, Sabah (then known as North Borneo), Sarawak, and Singapore to form Malaysia.

In another development, Fadillah, who is also the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, said Malaysia has made the development of the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) a key priority during its ASEAN Chairmanship.

The initiative aims to strengthen regional energy cooperation and ensure a more stable, sustainable and competitive electricity supply across Southeast Asia.

He said the APG is crucial for creating a regional grid network that allows ASEAN member states to exchange electricity across borders, helping any country experiencing supply shortages.

“For example, if Thailand faces an energy shortage, other countries can supply electricity. This system creates flexibility and strengthens regional energy security,” he said.

He added that the initial phase of the project has begun through the Laos–Thailand–Malaysia–Singapore (LTMS) Energy Integration Project (PIP), which serves as a foundation for future ASEAN energy integration.

The next step, he said, is to connect Borneo, which has the region’s highest renewable energy potential, to Peninsular Malaysia and subsequently to Singapore via an undersea cable.

“We aim to connect Borneo because it holds the largest renewable energy resources. This includes linking Borneo by undersea cable to the Peninsula, then to Singapore, and eventually extending from Borneo to the Philippines,” he said.

The three-day Rancakkan MADANI programme, which began last Friday, featured more than 300 people-friendly services, career fairs, interactive exhibitions, family entertainment activities and various special offers for the public.

The Rancakkan MADANI programme continues the tradition of the One-Year with the MADANI Government and Two-Year with the MADANI Government initiatives, which serve as the government’s annual direct reporting to the people.

-- BERNAMA