PUTRAJAYA — The Federal Government has reached agreement on a majority of Sabah and Sarawak’s requests concerning education and healthcare, Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Fadillah Yusof announced following the second Technical Committee meeting under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 Implementation Action Council (MTPMA63) today.
In the field of education, authorities from Sabah and Sarawak will now gain representation in planning development projects, access to information on senior officer transfers, and augmented funding for professional development programmes.
Similarly, health-related proposals have also met with federal concurrence. These include increased operational and development allocations, partial autonomy for State Health Directors, and the bolstering of human resources within state health departments.
Fadillah clarified that unresolved issues will continue to be addressed through respective Joint Action Committees under the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health, ensuring ongoing dialogue and progress. Other outstanding demands remain under active monitoring by the Technical Committee as well as relevant ministerial working groups.
This meeting serves as preparatory work for the upcoming MTPMA63 Council session, scheduled to be chaired by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Kuching on 12 September 2025.
Previously, Fadillah disclosed that out of a total of 29 demands under MA63, 13 have been resolved — nine under the current Madani administration and four during previous administrations — with the remaining 16 still under review.
The collaborative meeting today was attended by key leaders including Sabah Deputy Chief Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey G. Kitingan and Datuk Ir. Shahelmey Yahya, Sarawak Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, and Datuk Amar Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian, together with federal ministers and senior officials.
These developments mark a meaningful stride toward fulfilling Malaysia’s constitutional promise to the Borneo states, in line with MA63’s spirit of reaffirming Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners in the federation. The nation now looks ahead to the main council meeting to finalize and implement the agreed terms.
