By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, May 6: Sarawak Governor Tan Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar urges the federal government to continue to provide adequate development allocations in line with the rights and status of Sarawak as a Region.
Sarawak, he said, needs a large amount of allocation from the federal government to carry out various development projects and programmes.
“The return of Sarawak’s rights enshrined under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) is a matter very close to my heart.
“I call on the Sarawak government to continue to demand the rights that have been eroded be returned to Sarawak, and the promises that yet to be realised under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) to be implemented immediately, in accordance with MA63, the Federal Constitution and the law,” said Wan Junaidi during the opening ceremony of the Third Term of the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly which will be held from today until May 15.
He expressed appreciation over the commitment of the gederal government under the leadership of Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who has formed MA63 Implementation Action Council and Technical Committee as a platform to discuss Sarawak’s demands.
“I am confident with the close cooperation and friendship of the Sarawak government and the federal government, all rights and Sarawak’s demands under MA63 can be realised,” he said.
Wan Junaidi also expressed hope that the federal government may continue its commitment in developing Sarawak particularly in the aspects of education, health, border security and major road networks.
In commending Sarawak’s own efforts in providing educational facilities and quality health services for its people, Wan Junaidi expressed gratitude to the federal government for agreeing to allow Sarawak to build first, and to reimburse Sarawak later.
“Through this approach, the development of education facilities and health services in Sarawak can be accelerated,” said Wan Junaidi.
He took the opportunity to urge the federal government to give special attention to Sarawak’s border security as more Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) facilities and border control posts along the borders of Sarawak and Brunei Darussalam, and Kalimantan, Indonesia needed to be built and others, upgraded.
“These facilities are very important to guarantee the security of the country as they facilitate the control of movement of goods and visitors to optimise cross-border economic activities,” he said.
Other aspects that need special support and allocation from the federal government are the construction of major road networks, flood mitigation projects, river and coastal erosion control as well as telecommunication facilities, water supply and electricity. — DayakDaily
