I refer to the report Review rules, states urged in which Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department M Kayveas said that the Malaysia Act involving Sabah and Sarawak should be re-examined to suit current needs.

Let's first refresh our memory for a better perspective of the history of our nation.

Malaya was granted independence on Aug 31, 1957 whereas Sabah became a free country on Aug 31, 1963. Malaysia was formed upon the signing of the Malaysia Agreement, the signatories of which were Sabah, Sarawak, Singapore and Malaya.

Subsequently, the Federation of Malaysia was declared on Sept 16,1963. Singapore left the Federation in 1965, calling into question the legal integrity of the agreement.

Sabah, Sarawak, Singapore and Malaya formed the Federation of Malaysia. To connote that Sabah or Sarawak joined Malaysia is incorrect; as doing so would imply that the Federation of Malaysia had already existed and that the two eastern states joined later.

Against this backdrop, the call by the deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department to review the agreement is therefore appropriate.

However as signatories of the agreement, representatives of Sabah, Sarawak,or Malaya have the right to know, inquire, even demand the context upon which this agreement should be reviewed.

This is a very comprehensive agreement, involving among others constitutional, social, economic and immigration issues. The deputy minister, it seems, is only interested in doing away with the passport and work permit requirements.

If indeed the Malaysia Agreement is to be reviewed, it should be thoroughly studied by the representatives of all the parties involved, including the British government.

Issues such oil revenue, taxes, defence needs, international relations, appointments of civil servants, state powers, appointment of the governor, diplomatic officers are among some of the issues that should be on the agenda.

There should not be just one party telling the others what to do (like a deputy minister asking the assemblies of the two states to review the agreement). This will not do.

Representatives from Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya should all sit down at the table for discussions; and this should be under the aegis of the United Nations as the latter was very much involved in the formation of Malaysia. The representatives of the three parties should not be under any pressure to make their decision.

As far as Sabah is concerned, their state rights had been vehemently defended by Tun Mustapha Datu Harun of Usno and later by PBS' Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

Now that the Barisan Nasional is overwhelmingly mandated to rule Malaysia, some quarters might have the illusion that the Sabah leaders would simply give up their state rights without a whimper.

It is time for the leaders of the two eastern states to stand their ground lest they face a revolt through the ballot box at the next general election,

In conclusion, yes, the Malaysia Agreement needs to be reviewed. Agreed. And more than that, the new agreement should be formulated by representatives from all the three parties - namely Malaya, Sarawak and Sabah - under the auspices of the United Nations.