By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Sept 29: Economic planning in Malaysia must be based on regions namely Sarawak, Sabah, and Peninsular Malaysia according to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), as the economic structure of each of the three regions is different.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, in stating this, described the current approach where development is based on states as “the old way”.
“Actually, economic planning (in Malaysia) has to be based on regions. We have Sarawak region, Sabah region, and Peninsular Malaysia region.
“Our (Sarawak’s) economic structure is different from that in Peninsular Malaysia. We are based on our resources and our own uniqueness.
“So, the economic approach must be different,” he told reporters during a visit to SK Merpati Jepang here today.
That was how, Abang Johari added, MA63 came into the picture because the agreement stated that there are three regions, which are states in Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak, and Sabah, in the Federation of Malaysia.
“You see, our Baram is as big as their Pahang. How could the economic structure and planning (even be the same)? So, the approach must be changed,” he stressed.
To release Sarawak from the status of a State and into a region, the Sarawak government has proposed for the amendment of Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution by removing Sarawak and Sabah from the list of Malaysian states and placing them in a different group. — DayakDaily
