KUCHING, September 14: A special cabinet committee will be set up consisting of members from Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, who came together to form the Federation of Malaysia.
Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) whip chief Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the purpose of committee would be to discuss issues related to the three regions. It might include oil and gas matters as well as autonomy rights.
“There are still a lot of details to be discussed on this between the state government and the federal government, especially on legislation. A detailed press statement will be issued on this later,” he told a press conference after a meeting with Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) complex this morning.
The meeting was held following a courtesy call by 15 GPS MPs on Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday, in which they also discussed several other issues, including ways the state and federal governments could work together for the benefit of the people.
Asked who will represent the state in the proposed committee, Fadillah said Abang Johari has been invited to take up the post, but the committee and representatives of the other regions have yet to meet.
The special cabinet committee was mulled as part of Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) manifesto to look into the restoration of the rights of Sarawak and Sabah according to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Fadillah said Dr Mahathir had given a positive response during the meeting and hoped that GPS would do it (meeting) more often in the future to strengthen ties between Sarawak and Putrajaya.
As for the state’s oil royalty, Fadillah said Dr Mahathir had indicated there had been some constraints in terms of implementation.
“But we have briefed Abang Johari on that earlier and for Sarawak to come up with its own strategy. Cannot reveal much as Petros (Petroleum Sarawak Berhad) and Petronas are still in talks,” he said. — DayakDaily
