MA63 Remains Binding and Relevant 63 Years After Formation of Malaysia, Says Armizan

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 16 — The Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) did not cease to exist upon the enactment of the Federal Constitution but remains in full force, with its commitments and responsibilities continuing to be binding on all parties, Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said today.

Armizan emphasized that this principle aligns directly with Article VIII of MA63, which mandates that the governments of the Federation of Malaya, North Borneo (now Sabah), and Sarawak take all necessary legislative, executive, or administrative steps to fulfill the guarantees, undertakings, and recommendations outlined in Chapter 3 and Annexes A and B of the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report.

“This term reaffirms the commitment and responsibility of all parties that agreed to sign the agreement to form the Federation of Malaysia,” Armizan wrote in a Facebook post released in conjunction with Malaysia Day celebrations.

Armizan noted that as Malaysia reaches the 63-year mark since its formation in 1963, national history must be viewed through a comprehensive lens. He stressed that public understanding of Malaysia’s establishment should not be restricted to the Federation of Malaya Agreement 1948, the social contract, or Malaya’s 1957 independence, but must fully embrace MA63 as the definitive “birth certificate” of the Federation of Malaysia.

“In conjunction with this 63/63rd anniversary, let us together understand the value and significance of Malaysia Day by embracing the terms of the agreement signed by the nation’s founders, particularly those enshrined in Article VIII of MA63,” he said.

He further clarified that Malaysia does not require a new agreement or a “new deal,” as the explicit terms of MA63 confirm that the treaty did not expire following the implementation of the Federal Constitution.

Armizan concluded by expressing his hope that Malaysia will continue to grow as a resilient, advanced nation while safeguarding the prosperity and security of all citizens across the federation.

–NMT