KUCHING: Sarawak will continue to pursue its request to have Sarawak representatives appointed in the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN).
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said this is very critical to ensure Sarawak can have a say in any decision made by the LHDN.
He said Sarawak has also requested federal funding in eight sectors, namely poverty, infrastructure, utilities, healthcare, education, administrative and Borneonisation as well as land matters and financial matters.
“Although most of the requests are still under consideration by the federal government, we will continue to pursue our request under this committee until we get what we deserve under Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” he said.
Awang Tengah, who is also the Minister for International Trade and Investment and Second Minister of Natural Resources and Urban Development, was representing Sarawak in the first meeting for Socioeconomic Working Committee under the Special Council on Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) for the year 2022 held yesterday.
The meeting was co-chaired by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Dato’ Sri Mustapa bin Mohamed, and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah & Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Maximus Johnity Ongkili.
Awang Tengah said the federal government has formed a special taskforce for border development, which will function to plan for development of Sarawak – Kalimantan border, taking into consideration Indonesia’s new capital city in Kalimantan.
He said Sarawak has presented its proposals and requested federal funding for border development.
“We hope, through this initiative, Sarawak can develop more roads to connect border areas and to get the federal government to build more Custom Immigration Quarantine and Security (CIQs) to safeguard our border,” he said.
“Besides, we have requested the federal government to relook at the implementation mechanism to ensure all federal projects in Sarawak are implemented without delay,” he added.
