KUCHING: Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg tonight 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 tonight.
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.
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. – Bernama
