KUCHING: A Democratic Act Party (DAP) delegation paid a courtesy call to Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg at the State Legislative Assembly Complex yesterday.
DAP Chairman Chong Chieng Jen said that the main issue that was to discuss the devolution of power from the federal government to the state.
“We brought up matters regarding 50 per cent taxation, 20 per cent oil and gas royalty and also education and medical healthcare are paid and given back to the state.
“DAP’s stand on the matter is that decentralization of power is the way forward for a country to progress.
“This is because when things are planned out by the federal government, a lot of times too much red tapes and bureaucracy involved and that the plan is usually unsuitable for the local situation.
“As country progresses, so does the people. They become more knowledgeable and dur to this, the deman of self governance is stronger,” said Chong.
All DAP state legislators were present during the courtesy call while the chief minister was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Minister of Rural Electricity and Water Supply Datuk Stephen Rundi and Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
