KUCHING: The Sarawak government is still negotiating issues related to autonomy in education, medical and healthcare with the federal government.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said this in response to a question from a Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) member during the GPS Town Hall session at Penview Convention Centre Demak (PCC) here yesterday.
“When we talk about the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), the government has given its reaction, that is to form a standing committee. This committee was already formed when Datuk Seri Najib Razak was the prime minister.”
On administrative devolution, Johari disclosed that the matter had already been settled. “This includes ensuring 90 percent of teachers in the state are locals,” he added.
Asked if the Sarawak government would table a bill to repeal MA63 or bring the matter to court if the federal government kept on delaying its solutions in matters pertaining to Sarawak’s eroded rights under MA63, Johari replied: “I cannot make such a decision yet because the issues are still being negotiated now.
The chief minister, who is also GPS president, said that the Special Steering Cabinet Committee to review MA63 which is headed by the Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had mentioned that the issues to be negotiated will take about six months or more to settle.
“I feel six months is not enough because we are very firm in our stand on certain matters,” he said.
Johari revealed that during the first committee meeting on MA63, four non-negotiable issues were discussed namely, immigration autonomous power, the right to enforce state ordinances in accordance with the Federal Constitution, protection of the state’s borders and sovereignty on the sea, underground resources and resources within the state.
Johari added that sometimes the constitution and the laws were not taken seriously by the people.
“But after the late chief minister Pehin Sri Adenan spoke about it, many people are starting to read about MA63 in order to understand it,” he said.
Johari pointed out it was good that many people were starting to have an interest in the agreement.
He called on the people to give GPS their biggest mandate so that the local coalition could continue to fight for and safeguard Sarawak’s rights under MA63.
