Minister Affirms Malaysia Agreement 1963 Still Governs Federation After 63 Years

On Malaysia Day, Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali reiterated that the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) continues to be legally binding, despite the later enactment of the Federal Constitution. Citing Article VIII, he explained that the agreement obliges the governments of the Federation of Malaya, North Borneo and Sarawak to implement the guarantees set out in Chapter 3 and Annexes A and B of the Inter-Governmental Committee Report.

Armizan urged citizens to view MA63 as the foundational document of the federation, not merely the 1948 agreement or the 1957 independence. He dismissed proposals for a "new deal," asserting that the existing commitments remain relevant for past, present and future. The minister concluded with hopes for Malaysia's continued development, prosperity and security for all its people.