KUCHING, Aug 2: The Ministry of Finance (MOF) is still examining the legal aspects of the proposed appointment of representatives from Sarawak and Sabah as board members in the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (IRBM).
In a news report by Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas), Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said that the Ministry is still looking into the legal aspects of the representation of board members in IRBM.
“The legal aspect is related to the consideration of the proposed appointment of representatives from Sarawak and Sabah in the board,” he said in a written reply to Sibuti MP Lukanisman Awang Sauni in the Dewan Rakyat Sitting on Monday.
Lukanisman had asked about considering a permanent representative from the Sarawak government as a board member in IRBM as mandated in Article 21(1) of the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report 1962.
He stressed that the IGC Report was an important document that led to the formation of Malaysia through the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Sometime last year, Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg had put his foot down to pursue this claim for Sarawak to have a representative in the IRBM to have a clear and definite picture of the country’s financial position that would enable the State government to demand a rightful portion of revenue or Special Grant due to Sarawak.
The Sarawak government had submitted the proposal for a candidate to be represented in the IRBM. Still, until today, the Federal government has not come back with an affirmative response. — DayakDaily
