By Doreen Ling
KUCHING, Nov 12: The Sarawak and federal governments are still in negotiations over the reinstatement of tourism autonomy to the State, says Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Sarawak Datuk Sebastian Ting.
Answering a question by Batu Kitang assemblyman Dato Lo Khere Chiang during the question-and-answer session in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) sitting here today, Ting said that the Sarawak government is of the view that tourism should be moved to the Concurrent List from the Federal List under the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution.
Ting said that on May 31, 2024, the Sarawak government conveyed its position to the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (Motac) to advocate for tourism to be transferred to the Concurrent List, adding that another correspondence was submitted to Motac on Aug 13.
He also said that at the Majlis Tindakan Pelaksanaan Perjanjian Malaysia 1963 chaired by Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Sept 12, the Sarawak government reaffirmed its position on the matter to better serve the needs and interests of the Sarawak and federal governments.
“My ministry remains committed to continuing dialogue and negotiations with Motac in our proposal to amend item 25A (‘Tourism’) from the Federal List to the Concurrent List, which would grant concurrent powers to both the federal and Sarawak governments,” he said.
Ting said that significant benefits for Sarawak to have its tourism rights include allowing the State flexibility in developing its tourism industry through the formulation of local laws in terms of promoting investment in tourism infrastructure, levelling up the capability of local workforce development, and engaging assets in terms of connectivity and facilities. — DayakDaily
