By Nur Ashikin Louis and Nancy Nais
KUCHING, Jan 20: The federal government would consider increasing the RM50 million ceiling sum for projects in Sabah and Sarawak implemented without Putrajaya’s approval in the future, says Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“Experience showed that the implementation of projects under (the) federal (government) takes time, and there are (projects) that cannot be financed.
“The challenge for Sabah and Sarawak is to expedite the implementation of projects below RM50 million. This can be done immediately while project monitoring in terms of financial procedure would be abided as usual.
“I have also informed both the Premier of Sarawak (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg) and Chief Minister of Sabah (Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor) that if things go well, I have no issue in increasing the ceiling sum to a higher amount,” he said at a press conference after the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) Technical Committee meeting held at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex today.
At the same time, Abang Johari pointed out that the fruitful meeting reflected an implementation, not a discussion.
“The discussed matters are already enshrined under MA63; we only implement them. If there is any technical problem, we can also resolve it.
“One of the examples is the provision of authority for Sarawak and Sabah to implement projects below RM50 million. If the process goes well, the ceiling sum can be increased,” he said.
Abang Johari and Hajiji Noor thanked Anwar for the many decisions made during the meeting to resolve the negotiations on MA63. — DayakDaily
