By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 14: Decentralisation of power, including greater control over oil and gas resources, fiscal autonomy, and development planning, is key to closing long-standing development gaps in Sarawak as a heavily centralised federal approach has far too long failed the State, particularly communities in rural and interior areas.
In a statement today, Sarawak activist and Saya Anak Sarawak (SAS) founder Peter John Jaban has welcomed renewed discussions on decentralisation, saying it reflects long-standing concerns raised by Sarawakians over uneven development and centralised policymaking.
Responding to remarks made by Stakan assemblyman Hamzah Ibrahim during the Sarawak Legislative Assembly Sitting, Peter said the issue of devolving powers to Sarawak, particularly in education, healthcare, and development planning, has been repeatedly highlighted by local voices over the years.
“For far too long, policies affecting Sarawak have remained heavily centralised despite the unique realities faced by the people of the state, especially those living in rural and interior areas,” he said, adding that the system has contributed to persistent gaps in infrastructure, staffing, and service delivery.
He said the current framework has often failed to adequately address shortages of teachers and medical personnel, as well as uneven access to quality healthcare and education services across Sarawak.
Peter stressed that he has long advocated for the decentralisation of Sarawak’s healthcare system, arguing that localised management would enable more efficient and responsive service delivery for rural communities.
“Local management would allow more specialised, practical and fine-tuned solutions compared to a heavily centralised federal approach,” he said.
On education, he reiterated that meaningful reform cannot be achieved through a “one-size-fits-all” centralised system, urging greater State-level control in line with the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
He said Sarawak must be empowered to shape its own education policies to better reflect its cultural diversity, history, and economic needs.
Peter also highlighted the need for stronger investment in technical and vocational education and training (TVET), saying institutions should not remain concentrated in limited urban corridors but expanded across the State, including areas such as Limbang.
He proposed a wider distribution of technical colleges from Kuching to Lawas to ensure school leavers across Sarawak have equal access to skills training and employability pathways.
“More attention should be given to expanding technical and vocational education facilities across all regions, rather than concentrating them in a few areas,” he said.
He also called for increased funding for in-service teacher training and professional development, stressing that improving education outcomes requires continuous upskilling of educators.
Peter further reiterated his long-standing position on restoring Sarawak’s rights, including greater control over oil and gas resources, fiscal autonomy, and development planning powers.
He said the demand for stronger parliamentary representation for Sarawak and Sabah is rooted in the original formation of Malaysia, arguing that it is not a divisive demand but a constitutional safeguard.
“Sarawak and Sabah were founding partners in the Federation, not merely ordinary states within Malaya’s adminstrative structure,” he said, adding that fair representation is essential to protect Borneo’s voice in national decision-making.
He urged continued engagement among leaders, civil society, and policymakers to advance discussions on the restoration of Sarawak’s rights under MA63, including decentralisation, fiscal autonomy, resource management, education, healthcare reform, and fair parliamentary representation.
“Sarawak’s future must be shaped by policies that are closer to the realities of its people and respectful of the promises made during the formation of Malaysia,” he added. — DayakDaily
