KUNDASANG, Aug 22 — Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) said today it will set up two high-level committees to come up with recommendations for Borneonisation and the devolution of powers from Putrajaya to the state.

PBS acting president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said that the Malaysia Agreement 1963 will be studied for recommendations of action as the pledges in the agreement have "not been honoured satisfactorily”.

"We need to defend what is still there, and take back what have been eroded,” Ongkili told 200 participants after of a two-day party seminar on ‘Understanding the Malaysian Agreement 1963’ here today, according to a statement by the Barisan Nasional (BN) party.

The Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister said he will be heading the main committee on the devolution of power, while PBS senior vice president Datuk Radin Malleh will chair the high level committee on Borneonisation.

He said the two committees will be supported by technical teams comprising senior politicians and lawyers of the party who are experts in various fields, as well as former senior civil servants.

They will be tasked to study and analyse the relevant issues, findings, and proposed solutions that will be presented to the party leadership, and subsequently to the state and federal governments.

Ongkili, who was recently tasked to to carry out the duties as party president, said it was important to study the MA63 to understanding the safeguards, particularly Borneonisation to ensure Sabahans, especially natives, are well represented in the civil service, government-linked companies and other benefits.

"We want to make sure both the federal and state civil services are not monopolised by one group only ,” he said, adding PBS had always been championing these issues to ensure the future generations are given fair treatment as contained in the Malaysia Agreement.