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By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Aug 8: The Federal government has no absolute right as it still has to refer to the Sarawak government when it comes to education policy, says Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said Paragraph 17 of the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report 1962 for education autonomy, has affirmed the need for the Director of Education Sarawak to consult and seek advice from the Sarawak government first on any education policies.
“Despite the director being a Federal officer, he or she must refer to Sarawak first.
“That is why I have told the Minister of Education (Fadhlina Sidek) that there is no absolute right. You have to refer to Sarawak as far as the policy on education is concerned,” he said during a thanksgiving dinner on the appointment of Tan Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar as Dewan Negara president held at Dewan Kompleks Islam Sarawak here earlier tonight.
Abang Johari further said the IGC Report under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) has stipulated that Sarawak must have a representative in the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).
“Only with a representative in IRB will we know how much Malaysia has earned from revenue collection and then, we ask them to share with Sarawak. Or else, we would not know.
“This is because under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution, I have requested for the provision of special grants to Sabah and Sarawak be done with a formula.
“Former Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng offered to give Sarawak RM40 million (as special grants) but I do not accept. I asked for a formula.
“Finally, alhamdulillah, Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim has given a substantial provision to us which is an interim allocation as we work on the formula to share revenue,” he added.
He further said all these efforts would not be as strong as it is if Wan Junaidi who was the former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) had not amended the Federal Constitution to recognise MA63.
“When he inserted MA63 as part of the Federal Constitution and this was supported by two-thirds majority in Parliament, Sarawak’s rights are protected by the Constitution and we just go along with what is stated in our MA63,” he emphasised.
Amongst those present were Abang Johari’s wife Puan Sri Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang; Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki; and Dewan Negara Deputy President, Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed. — DayakDaily
