KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 ― Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should do something more substantive than signing a commemorative Malaysia Day document and grant autonomy in education to Sabah and Sarawak instead, DAP’s Lim Kit Siang said today.

The DAP parliamentary leader also urged Najib to allow for a two-day debate in Parliament before the tabling of Budget 2016 next month on granting greater autonomy to East Malaysia.

“Najib has committed himself to grant more autonomy to Sabah and Sarawak, and the 52nd Malaysia Day on September 16, in his sixth year as Malaysian Prime Minister, should be the historic occasion to see the start of the process of Putrajaya honouring such a commitment,” Lim said in a statement.

The Gelang Patah MP added that Putrajaya should also acknowledge the historic Batu Sumpah in Keningau, an oath stone on which is inscribed the rights that Sabahans demanded upon the establishment of Malaysia in 1963 that are freedom of religion, authority by the state government over land issues and for native customs and traditions to be respected by the government.

The opposition lawmaker also called for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to determine if the dreams and aspirations of Sabahans and Sarawakians have been fulfilled over the past 52 years.

Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem said recently that he intended to reclaim autonomy for Sarawak, particularly in the education sector, noting that the state’s powers in sectors like education and health were meant to be returned to Sarawak according to the Malaysia Agreement.