By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, May 21: The Sarawak government is expediting discussions on the proposal to increase the number of parliamentary seats for Sarawak and Sabah in the Parliament to better reflect the spirit and intent of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
At the same time, discussions on the Special Grant formula as part of the financial review under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution is also among the State government’s top priorities.
“Sarawak Government continues to give strong focus to several important matters under MA63 that have not yet been settled,” Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali in response to questions from Katibas assemblyman Lidam Assam during the questions and answers session during the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUNS) Sitting today.
She said these issues have been brought up regularly by the Sarawak government through official meetings and negotiation platforms, including the Mesyuarat Majlis Tindakan Pelaksanaan Perjanjian Malaysia 1963 and MA63 Technical Committee meetings established for this purpose.
The Sarawak Government remains committed to ensuring that the rights and entitlements of the State are fully upheld in accordance with the Federal Constitution, the Malaysia Agreement 1963, and the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report.
Sarawak Government always committed in reclaiming and safeguarding the Sarawak’s rights under Malaysia Agreement 1963, she added.
While certain matters remain unresolved and continue to be the subject of ongoing negotiations, the Sarawak Government is proactively engaging with the Federal Government through continuous dialogue and consultation.
“The Sarawak Government ensures that these negotiations are carried out and addressed in a manner that is in line with the spirit of equal partnership and with full acknowledgment for Sarawak’s constitutional position as enshrined in the Federal Constitution, MA63 and the IGC Report,” said Sharifah Hasidah.
She added that the Sarawak Government has partially resolved matters in respect of Financial Review under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution.
“In this regard, as an interim arrangement, the Federal Government has agreed to increase the amount of the Special Grant for Sarawak from RM300 million to RM600 million for a period of five years.
“Nevertheless, the Sarawak Government strongly urges that negotiations on the Special Grant formula be expedited, in the spirit of partnership and in recognition of Sarawak’s constitutional rights under the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963,” she said. — DayakDaily
