By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Nov 25: Sarawak hopes to have its education and health autonomy returned to it now that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is part and parcel of the unity government.
Sarawak Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) Dr Annuar Rapaee pointed out that the Pakatan Harapan-led unity government had, in its 15th General Election (GE15) manifesto under Point 33, pledged to implement the decentralisation of power to the regions of Sabah and Sarawak.
“We are grateful that the unity government formed yesterday is in line with the second Rukun Negara principle, which is ‘Kesetiaan Kepada Raja dan Negara’ (Loyalty to the King and Country) where GPS is together in forming the unity government for the interests of the people.
“This is because, in their (GE15) manifesto, PH has stated in its 33rd point on decentralisation of power to the regions of Sabah and Sarawak, one of them being the autonomy of education and health.
“We hope that this will become a reality in the near future,” he said in response to Tupong assemblyman Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman during the question-and-answer session in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here today.
Point 33 of PH’s manifesto lists four items that needed to be decentralised, namely education and health autonomy, entrustment of electricity supply administration, village community management council, and native employment. — DayakDaily
