He said these include the state’s authority over health issues, the remaining legislative authority on the environment, the labour force in Sabah and Sarawak, and the release of land given ownership rights to the federation in Sabah and Sarawak.

“Most have already been passed to the (special council) committee. There are ongoing matters still under discussion. For example, the issue of grants under Act 112 (1) of the Federal Constitution (Increase of Posts) with Sarawak.

“Discussions have started but there has been no decision yet on how much there is to be reviewed regarding the refund (for oil royalties and petroleum cash refunds).

“The additional Sabah and Sarawak parliamentary seats are also still under discussion,” he said after attending the “1963 Malaysia Agreement Awareness Forum – MA63: From the Perspective of the Millennial Generation” at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) here.

Among other issues that have not been fully resolved is the review of special grants (Article 112D of the Federal Constitution) for Sarawak, as well as the gas and electricity regulatory authority for Sabah.

Asked whether the ratio for the distribution of 35% of the parliamentary seats in Sabah and Sarawak should be maintained instead of basing it on the state’s population, Ongkili said it was up to the Election Commission (EC).

He said the more important thing is that the goal for the two states to regain the percentage of seats as stated in the MA63 is achieved.

“The main objective is to return the 30% to 35% rights. The ratio used by the EC focuses on population and urbanisation. However, the important thing is that aspirations and terms as stated in MA63 are restored,” he said.

He hoped that more programmes explaining the formation of Malaysia and the goals of MA63 can be held at institutes of higher education, whether in the peninsula or Sabah and Sarawak.