THE Sarawak Government has submitted a proposal to have representatives from Sarawak to sit on the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) Board of Directors.
Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, MA63, and Federal-State Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali said this was to ensure that the state government is aware of the state’s financial position, among others, to assist the state government’s efforts in discussion and negotiation on the special grants under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution (FC).
“However, the Sarawak Government has yet to receive any feedback from the federal government on the matter,” she said.
She said this in reply to the supplementary questions by Datuk Ibrahim Baki (GPS-Satok) on of the remaining unresolved claims of the Sarawak government under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and what is the action of the state government to ensure that the claims are met during the fourth day of the DUN Sitting on Friday (May 20).
Commenting further, she said that the state government will continue the discussions and negotiations with the federal government to ensure that its claims can be resolved successfully.
She also said the Sarawak government has submitted the proposed amendments to the Federal Constitution as part of the efforts to restore the rights of Sarawak.
“For example, the Sarawak government has proposed amendments to the Legislative List in the Ninth Schedule of the FC, specifically to remove ‘Tourism’ from Item 25A in List I (Federal List), to be listed as one of the items in List III (Concurrent List).
Earlier, Hasidah said that four claims of the state government under the MA63 were resolved through the MA63 Special Council Meeting.
“Among them, is the negotiation agreement between the Sarawak Government and Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) through a Commercial Settlement Agreement (CSA); and recognition of Sarawak’s right to impose Sales Tax on petroleum products.
“This includes the recognition of Sarawak’s right to regulate gas distribution in Sarawak; and amendments to Articles 1 (2), 160 (2) and 161A (6) and (7) of the FC, which came into force on Feb 11,” she said.
She also said that there are five claims of the state government which are still under negotiations.
“This includes the issue of the judicial administration in Sabah and Sarawak; proposed recognition of Public Works Department (PWD) Sarawak, Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Sarawak, Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) as Technical Departments under Treasury Direction 182.
“Apart from that, the claims include the proposed increase in the number of Dewan Rakyat members from Sabah and Sarawak in Parliament; proposed representatives of Sarawak Government in the IRB Board of Directors; and discussion on the special grant revision formula under Article 112D of the FC,” said Hasidah.
