By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, July 10: Sarawak has submitted the name of its candidate to represent the State in the federal Inland Revenue Board (IRB) Board of Directors to facilitate the provision of annual special grants under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution.
Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, said this was the latest progress in Sarawak’s demands for its rights as enshrined under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report.
Under Article 112D, Sarawak and Sabah are entitled to an allocation of special grants.
However, Abang Johari and the Sarawak government have previously stressed that the special grant must be specified with a reasonable formula based on the Federal government’s annual income revenue and not a fixed amount.
“If we have a representative in IRB, we will know how much revenue the country generates. Then, from there, we will know the amount that (the federal government) can give to us.
“We do not want to pressure Putrajaya (by setting a fixed amount). It must be followed by a formula to create a win-win situation between the federal government and Sarawak.
“If the financial position at the federal level is not so good, it is also not right for us to pressure them. But if it is based on a formula, it will be easy,” he said.
He told this to reporters during the handing over ceremony of sacrificial cows and korban meat for the Gedong constituency in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration held at Masjid Al-Kawthar in Gedong today.
Also present was Federal Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dato Sri Nancy Shukri who is Batang Sadong MP. — DayakDaily
