KUCHING, Jan 4: The federal government will ensure an increase in special grants under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution to Sarawak and Sabah, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said the grant amount would be reviewed and he hopes to finalise it in a meeting with Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor later this month in Kuching.
“There is a special provision 112D in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) that stipulates reasonable allocations to Sabah and Sarawak, which were initially given RM16 million and RM25 million, respectively, and should be reviewed every five years, but this did not occur.
“Therefore, we must ensure an increase in the amount of reasonable allocation that is different from the capitation grant or the Malaysian Road Records Information System (Marris) grant, as stipulated in the MA63 agreement,” he told a press conference after chairing the unity government’s Cabinet meeting in Putrajaya today.
Anwar went on to say that the federal government has agreed to approve additional allocations for the Pan-Borneo Highway project in Sarawak and Sabah.
He said details would be announced by the Minister of Works Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi in due time.
Also present at the press conference were Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof. — DayakDaily
