KUCHING, July 22: Batang Sadong MP Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri has appealed to the federal government to review the special grant for Sarawak as stated under Section 112D of the Federal Constitution.
She said under that section, the federal government had been giving a special grant of RM60 million per year.
“However, the amount has not been reviewed since 1968. As of 2018, the expenditure for Sarawak has increased by 1,910 per cent, as compared to 1968,” she told DayakDaily after debating the royal address today.
Apart from the request to review the special grant, Nancy also called on the federal government to fulfil its promise of giving 20 per cent oil royalty.
“The prime minister himself acknowledged that Sarawak and Sabah were neglected before GE14 on a video. So, we hope Pakatan Harapan would honour what it promised then, before the election,” she said.
The 20 per cent oil royalty should not be based on profit and should be based on revenue, she opined.
“We just want to be treated equally and fairly and be given what is rightfully ours. I am requesting the federal government to honour the power vested in the Oil Mining Ordinance 1958 (OMO). We want the mining of oil and gas to be regulated under OMO.
“We have always been fair, and we just want the federal government to comply with our ordinance,” she emphasised.
Pointing to the royal address, Nancy said even the King had expressed his wish to see Sarawak and Sabah benefit from the administration of the new government.
“In reference to the Agong’s reminder, I call also for the federal government to look into the needs of Sarawak. Many of the basic infrastructure projects that were approved before were cancelled by the new government.
“We hope the cancellation of basic infrastructure projects is only temporary, and that the federal government will continue to implement projects that are meant to boost infrastructure and development in the rural areas.” — DayakDaily
