KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) intends to come up with proposals on how to take back Sabah rights that have been lost over the years.

The party has set up two committees, headed by PBS deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili (pic) and vice-president Datuk Radin Malleh.

Maximus will be heading a committee on the devolution of powers to the state while Radin’s panel will look into “Borneonisation” or the employment of Sabahans in Federal government agencies especially in key positions.

“We have identified key persons to sit in these panels,” said Maximus, who has been tasked with carrying out duties of PBS president.

“We hope to get some results soon and have set a two-month time frame before submitting our findings and proposed solutions to the party leadership and thereon to the state and Federal governments,” he added.

Maximus, who is also Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister, said the party’s goal was to defend Sabah’s rights as enshrined in the Constitution.

“We need to take back what has been eroded, in the same spirit and commitment of what Sarawak is doing. Let’s be excited to correct the wrong and fight for the people,” Ongkili said.

He said the committees would be studying what was promised in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) pertaining to the two perennial issues and recommend remedial action.

He said it was important to study the undertakings in the MA63 pertaining to various safeguards, particularly “Borneonisation” to ensure optimal participation of Sabahans, especially natives, in the civil services, as well as Government-Linked Companies (GLCs), in respect to promotions, scholarship awards and trainings.

“We want to make sure both the Federal and state civil services are not monopolised by one group only,” he said, stressing that PBS had always been championed these issues.