KUCHING: Sarawak will stick with its proposed formula for the distribution of the special grant to the state under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution (FC).
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state has already brought up the matter with the federal government, which is currently reviewing and looking into it.
“Concerning the matters related to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), we have already raised what is required by Sarawak in the MA63, and (Deputy Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof has also been instructed to resolve the matter within a month.
“We have discussed and given him the things that should be returned to the state, and among them is the special grant under Article 112D, where we have our own formula.
“Although it seems that they (the federal government) have their own formula, we hold firm to our formula that we feel is fair for both the state and the federal government,” he said.
He said this to reporters after attending Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas’ Christmas open house at his residence here today (Dec 25).
Abang Johari, who is also the Finance and New Economy Minister, also expressed hope that the federal government understands the rationale behind the formula proposed by the state.
“I see that (the formula) is fair to the federal government and our state based on the revenue obtained by the federal government from Sarawak.
“As we know, for instance, we have stamp duty, which is collected by the federal government even though the transaction is based on our land and the land is Sarawak’s asset,” he said.
