BY NOOR SYAHHIRA HADY & NURA VALENTIANA
KUCHING: The Sarawak government has commended Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for his efforts to quickly resolve outstanding MA63-related issues.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said Sarawak was very appreciative of the move since resolving the issues fast would help to ensure effective and speedy implementation of development projects in the region.
Citing Anwar’s recent approval in giving Sarawak the power to implement projects worth RM50 million, he said, “It is the right move to prevent delays or non-implementation of approved projects in Sarawak.
“It is my hope that the request to place the federal government development fund under a federal government trust fund to be instituted in Sarawak will be approved without any hitches. The fund is to implement the RM50-million-and-below projects.
“Other than that, I would also like to thank the federal government for endorsing Sarawak’s Public Works Department and Drainage and Irrigation Department as technical departments to implement projects in Sarawak,” he said in his 2023 Chinese New Year message yesterday.
Abang Johari hoped Sarawak could be developed faster with the orderly decentralisation of power to the region.
“As one of the three parts of the federation, Sarawak should be given more attention than before to prevent lopsided development when compared to Peninsular Malaysia. After all, Sarawak is one of the three top contributors to the national coffer.
“I sincerely hope that other outstanding issues, particularly the formula for financial contributions to Sarawak and Sabah, will be agreed upon soon by the federal government so that the region can have a fair share of the return of revenue from the federal government,” he said.
Rather than mere handouts, Abang Johari pointed out that Sarawak had suggested a formula based on the current economic health of the country.
“I believe that Sarawak’s formula is a fair mechanism to apportion federal financial contributions to the regions as provided for in the Constitution.
“With that, as we join our Chinese friends to celebrate the lunar new year, I sincerely hope the new year will see all outstanding issues on MA63 including return of autonomy on education and health settled in a spirit of unity and understanding between the federal and Sarawak government,” he expressed.
On the outcome of the 15th General Election (GE15) outcome, the Premier said it had further strengthened and enhanced the voices of Sarawakians in the Parliament.
He said after the GE15, Sarawak remained a significant part of the federal government.
As there was no single political party that could rule the country on its own, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) was willing to work with the central government for the sake of national development and a stable federal government.
“With an improved score in the last general elections, we are grateful that GPS shares the responsibility of administering the country as part of the Unity Government in Putrajaya that saw the appointment of a Deputy Prime Minister from Sarawak, a first in the history of this country.
“This is a significant achievement for the GPS government and as head of the government, I wish to thank the Prime Minister for the respect his government has accorded to Sarawak by appointing one of his deputies from Sarawak.
“I am quite happy that through the Deputy Prime Minister, Sarawak has been given some power to pursue what is best for the region and its people, especially on outstanding issues pertaining to Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” said Abang Johari.
