KUCHING: The federal government must not drag its feet on returning Sarawak’s autonomy over education as enshrined under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the Inter-Governmental Committee Report (IGC).
In pointing this out, Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap said with the return of this autonomy, the state government which understands the local situation will be able to serve Sarawakians with policies which are better tailored for human capital development and manpower requirements.
“MA63 and IGC Report are now an integral part of the Federal Constitution.
“The formation of Malaysia in 1963 provided safeguards to protect the rights and privileges of the people of Sarawak … education autonomy was one of the rights accorded to Sarawak,” he said in a statement, today (Jan 10).
He also pointed out that Sarawak’s autonomy on education was gradually diluted and eroded to the extent it has become a wholly federal government matter.
“It is also important that Sarawakians must never forget that during the negotiations leading to the formation of Malaysia, point 15 of the 18 point Agreement drawn up by Sarawak clearly stated that the existing education system of Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak) should be maintained and for this reason it should be under state control,” he said.
Yap expressed hope that the recent announcement is not superficial and cosmetic in nature as this has been the wish and aspiration of ordinary Sarawak for a very long time.
On Jan 7, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the federal government has in principle agreed to return autonomy over education and health to Sarawak.
