Sarawak govt happy with negotiation on MA63
Published on: Sunday, March 10, 2019
By: Bernama
KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg (pic) said the State Government is happy with the negotiation with regards to the State’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“So far so good, we managed to get something that we wanted,” he said in his speech at the 63rd Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) anniversary dinner, here, Friday night.
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The Chief Minister, however, did not disclose what the State had managed to get from the negotiation, adding that matters that could not be decided during the meeting were being referred to the technical committee.
“I have the feeling that whatever differences we have can be settled with the Federal Government.
“What’s important is for Sarawak to be run by Sarawakians and I am confident that Sarawak will have a bright future and position ourselves as the most developed state in Malaysia by 2030,” he said, adding that Sarawak would exercise whatever rights it has, including the rights over gas and petroleum.
On SDNU, the Chief Minister urged the association to work closely with the Government, saying that the State Government would assist the association in whatever means.
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He said SDNU should be a catalyst in the Government’s transformation programmes to contribute towards the development of the State for the benefit of the communities it represented.
Meanwhile, SDNU President Tan Sri William Mawan stressed on the need for the association to be apolitical but worked along with the Government.
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Meanwhile, Abang Johari said he will leave it to the Federal Government to announce a matter pertaining to stamp duty revenue which was raised by the State and Sabah in relation to the MA63.
“Of course, the GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) government will be voting on that issue,” he said.
At the moment, stamp duty revenue goes to the Federal coffer, although based on MA63, what is collected in Sarawak and Sabah should rightfully be retained by the two states.
This is because administration of land matters in Sarawak and Sabah is under their Land Code.
Abang Johari said there are many matters being discussed, adding:
“I mention the Stamp Act because the Prime Minister (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) also mentioned it.”
Last Tuesday, Dr Mahathir conducted a close to two-hour meeting on a review of MA63 and mentioned there is little disagreement between the Federal, Sabah and Sarawak governments.
Several working papers on the various government functions were tabled at the Special Cabinet Committee (Steering Committee) to review MA63, and most of them will be referred to the Technical Committee for an in-depth study before being discussed again.
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The Steering Committee, whose objective is to restore the status of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners in Malaysia, held its first meeting on Dec 17, 2018.
On Friday, Minister of Law in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Liew Vui Keong, said the Cabinet agreed to amend Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution to restore the status of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners with Peninsular Malaysia during a meeting last Wednesday (Feb 27).