The Federal Government will not let up in efforts to restore Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners in the Federation of Malaysia, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The Prime Minister said that in his speech at the national-level Malaysia Day celebration in Kuching, Sarawak on Monday, adding that the government has set up a special Cabinet committee to review the implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir said the government had also agreed to fully hand over the administration of Pulau Sipadan and Pulau Ligitan to the Sabah state government, except for matters related to security which would still be under the jurisdiction of the federal government.

The prime minister said the transfer of authority was an outcome of negotiations in the MA63 special cabinet committee and showed the earnestness of the Pakatan Harapan government to effectuate the Malaysia Agreement 1963.