KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has reiterated that there was no audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to discuss the revocation of the emergency order in the state.
“No. There was no meeting (with the Agong). I only met with the Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Nazrin Shah on Thursday.
“Our Yang di-Pertuan Agong had just returned home (after the UK trip). So the Yang di-Pertuan Agong would still want to look at the information (on the Covid-19 situation in the state).
“The Head of State (Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud) will be the one who will seek an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong later on,” he told reporters after handing over land titles under Section 18 of the State Land Code for Samariang Constituency at Kampung Samariang Batu multipurpose hall yesterday (Oct 29).
When asked if Taib would be meeting with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in the nearest time to discuss the lifting of the emergency order, Abang Johari said, “That will be up to the Agong”.
The current Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) tenure had ended on June 6, but in view of the nationwide state of emergency which took effect from Jan 12 to Aug 1, the DUN did not dissolve on June 7.
Then earlier in July this year, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had decreed that Sarawak be placed under a Proclamation of Emergency from Aug 2, 2021 to Feb 2, 2022 in view of the Covid-19 situation.
This means that the state election will not be held until the emergency is lifted.
On the national 2022 Budget, Abang Johari said he hoped a good allocation would be given to Sarawak.
“I hope that the Budget will give a good allocation for the state so that we can continue our efforts to develop Sarawak.
“As I have mentioned during the launch of the Keluarga Malaysia the other day, our approach may be a little bit different from elsewhere, and we hope that the allocation will be based on our strengths” he said.
He added that the state also needed to build infrastructures such as schools as well as roads.
Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz unveiled the 2022 Budget amounting to RM332.1 billion in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
