MADANI Kenali Borneo Carnival To Reach More States, Deepen Understanding Of MA63

By Rashidah Abd Rahim

MELAKA, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- The MADANI Kenali Borneo Carnival, held for the first time in Melaka, will be expanded to other states to raise public awareness of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and establish it as a national narrative rather than one confined to Sabah and Sarawak.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said the initiative, organised by the Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Division, aimed to help Malaysians better understand the agreement’s role in the country's formation and the rights of both states.

“The Prime Minister wants all Malaysians to understand that MA63 forms the foundation of this nation. Without the agreement, Malaysia would not exist.

“Previous leaders understood its significance, but the lack of emphasis on MA63 has led many to regard it as an issue concerning only Sabah and Sarawak.

“We want all Malaysians to understand the rights and demands of the people of Sabah and Sarawak to help preserve national harmony,” he told Bernama after officiating at the carnival at Dataran Keris last night.

Also present was Melaka Implementation Coordination Unit deputy director Afzai Nizam Sandiman.

Mustapha said Melaka was chosen for the pilot programme because of its historical significance as the site where the independence of the Federation of Malaya was proclaimed.

The extension of the programme to other states, including Sabah and Sarawak, he said, would be done through a zonal approach, with programmes tailored to local needs.

On the implementation of MA63, he said significant progress had been made under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s administration.

Of the 29 matters raised under MA63, he said 16 had been resolved, including 12 under the MADANI Government.

He added that the interim special grant for Sabah had also been increased from RM300 million to RM1.5 billion this year.

The MADANI Kenali Borneo Carnival in Melaka featured exhibitions, the Jualan Rahmah MADANI sales programme, digital activities, cultural performances and e-sports competitions.

-- BERNAMA