By Ling Hui
KUCHING, July 19: Sarawakians will soon hear good news from Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg in September on Sarawak’s oil and gas States Sales Tax (SST) issue.
Santubong MP Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said that there were positive results from both Abang Johari and national oil and gas company, Petronas after their discussions.
“The conclusion will probably be announced in due time,” Wan Junaidi, who is also Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister, revealed in a media conference here yesterday.
Meanwhile, he also clarified his view on the ongoing debate to distribute one-third Parliamentary seats to Sarawak and Sabah which many parties have claimed to be the rightful action.
“I said that this particular notion is not stated clearly in MA63 (Malaysia Agreement 1963) and the Malaysian Act even though it was mentioned in the Cobbold Commission Report, Inter Governmental Committee (IGC) Report and reflected in the composition of Parliamentary members from 1963 to 1965,” said Wan Junaidi.
He asserted Singapore’s Parliamentary seats after it left the Federation of Malaysia were given only to Peninsular Malaysia and none to Sarawak or Sabah, which explained the less than one-third of Parliamentary seats in the hands of Sarawak and Sabah.
“I agree that this allocation of seats are to be revised and acted upon now.
“We should understand that that there are Parliamentary areas in Sarawak that is huge, for example the seat of Baram, which is bigger than the state of Pahang.
“For this type of Parliamentary seat and location, we should consider that more representatives are elected to represent the people in the Parliament,” he added. —DayakDaily
