By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, March 16: Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said Sarawak is dropping the word `state’ in all its official circulars with immediate effect.
He said this was done following the proposed amendment to Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution.
“Since there is an amendment of the Federal Constitution’s Article 1(2), which corrects the status of Sarawak as compared to other states, Sarawak is dropping the word `state’ in its official correspondence and circulars.
“The word ‘state’ will not be used anymore, and this is done to differentiate Sarawak from other states.
“It will take immediate effect,” Abdul Karim told DayakDaily this morning.
He said the issue was discussed during Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s visit to Betong on March 12, where he attended the Sarawak Development Coordination Committee Meeting.
State Secretary Tan Sri Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani was also present at that meeting.
Abdul Karim said although the amendment had yet to be passed in the current sitting of Parliament, the federal government’s intention to restore the status of Sarawak and Sabah with that of Peninsular Malaysia was already there.
“So, dropping the word ‘state’ in our circular is just an internal arrangement within the Sarawak government. It involves Sarawak’s administrative (processes). We do not have to wait for the amendment to be passed.
“The whole idea is to differentiate Sarawak from other states,” Abdul Karim reiterated.— DayakDaily
