KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reportedly put an end to any questions about secession, insisting that Malaysia functions as a federation.

Amid calls for more autonomy for the federation’s members, Anwar said his administration inherited the system and will continue to manage relations with its members and other minority groups.

“(Malaysia is) a federal system. We navigate, we negotiate, but we draw the line (if the need arises),” he was quoted as saying. Free Malaysia Today.

“We must hold states accountable where necessary. At the same time, the state can make demands. Sometimes they have the ability, sometimes they don’t.

He said relations between the federal and state governments were well managed by the current system.

“This will continue for decades. This is the system that we inherited, and I think we have to make sure that we mature in this process,” he was quoted as saying.

“We must ensure the continuation of this negotiation process (based on) trust, understanding and respect,” he added.

Malaysia was established in 1963 as a federation consisting of Malaysia, Singapore, Sabah (then called North Borneo) and Sarawak.

Apart from calling for more autonomy in East Malaysia, states like Penang, Johor, Kelantan and Terengganu have also raised the issue of revenue and taxes.

In September, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said 11 demands made under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) negotiating platform had been successfully resolved.

These included the designation of the Sabah and Sarawak Public Works Department as the technical department; the transfer of regulatory power over gas supply; and amendments to the Inland Revenue Board Act 1995 to appoint representatives of the Sabah and Sarawak state governments as permanent members of the board.

Fadillah, who is also the chairman of the technical committee of the MA63 Implementation Action Council, said the resolution also covered demands related to the administration of the judiciary in Sabah and Sarawak; special guidelines for the return of land reserved for federal purposes in Sabah and Sarawak.