Premier praised fed govt for returning state’s 52 lots of land

KUCHING: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg today thanked the federal government for returning 52 lots of land that had been acquired from the Sarawak government in accordance with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
 
“I would like to thank the leadership of the Unity Government, who have recently agreed to return 52 lots of land, including the historic General Post Office building,” he said.
 
These land lots (in Sarawak) were acquired by the federal government, but they were never developed. Thus, the federal government has agreed to return the lots of land to Sarawak.
 
Abang Johari was speaking at Sarawak’s 60th Independence Anniversary celebration and parade held at the Padang Merdeka here today.
 
In the meantime, he also assured that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government remains committed to protecting Sarawak and fighting for more rights under the MA63 to be restored.
 
“The late Tok Nan (former chief minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem) is no longer with us, but I want to assure you that the efforts to restore Sarawak’s eroded rights will continue until all that was allocated to Sarawak in MA63 is respected,” he stressed.
 
Among the recent achievements in restoring Sarawak’s rights were the authority to implement federal projects worth RM50 million and below, with the state Public Works Department and Drainage and Irrigation Department recognised as technical departments, and having a representative from Sarawak on the directors’ board of the Inland Revenue Board, in accordance with Article 112D of the Federal Constitution.
 
Apart from that, he said, the Sarawak government has also introduced several initiatives to ensure education in Sarawak is on par with the standards of other developed countries, such as Singapore.
 
“Although education is the responsibility of the federal government, we are given some powers in this matter under Article 17 of the Inter-Governmental Committee Report (IGC).
 
“Thus, we have some programmes that aim to produce students with knowledge and skills that are in accordance with current needs as well as future demands,” he added.
 
Meanwhile, thousands thronged Padang Merdeka for the Sarawak Day celebration as well as to witness the parade with 75 contingents involving over 3,000 participants.
 
Each contingent marched across the main stage and competed in several categories, namely state and federal government, statutory bodies, government-related companies, local authorities and associations, organisations, and clubs.
 
Several roads leading to the city centre were closed to make way for the celebration, while police personnel were also in place to avoid untoward incidents.
 
At the event, Abang Johari also welcomed the arrival of the Sarawak Merdeka Convoy led by Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu, who later handed over the Sarawak flag to Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Volunteer Reserve chief Lt Dya Syful Mirza Alluwie for the flag-raising ceremony.
 
Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Sarawak Legislative Assembly Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar, and Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who is also minister-in-charge of the event, were among those who attended the celebration.