Abang Johari beats the gong to launch the IRSSM. Kandampully is on the right and Jamil (third right). — Photo by Kong Jun Liung
KUCHING: Housing may be one of the sectors that the state government will have more empowerment over.
Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said this matter was among the issues discussed with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak recently.
“We have discussed the issue on empowerment with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, and what we want now is more details on the sectors that will be handed over to the state government,” he told reporters after officiating at the opening of the 6th International Research Symposium in Service Marketing (IRSSM) here yesterday.
“As housing is a concurrent subject under the constitution, we proposed to the prime minister that empowerment on housing be given to Sarawak, but it remains in the framework of the constitution. With this, it will allow us to implement related projects.”
Apart from housing, Abang Johari said another strategic sector, namely from the point of delivery of projects to the people, was also proposed, where the federal government would have to look for new approaches to ensure that allocations from Kuala Lumpur could be implemented through local methods.
“This strategic sector is specifically for rural projects such as roads, electricity supply and water supply, where Sarawak has its own methods in implementing the projects.”
Asked when a decision will be made following the discussion, he believed it would be finalised as soon as possible by the special committee headed by Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa, and State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Abdul Ghani.
Abang Johari, who took part in the discussion on empowerment with Najib, stressed that the term ‘autonomy’ should not be misinterpreted.
“The term ‘autonomy’ can sometimes mean different things. However, in this context, it is to delegate power, because in the constitution, there is power under the federal government, power under the state government, and also power that’s shared by both.”
“There may be some people who may consider the term ‘autonomy’ to mean absolute independence, which brings elements of separation.
“Therefore, we have to be careful when using the term ‘autonomy’ for what is happening now is the devolution of power to the state in several sectors based on the constitution.”
Also present at the ceremony were IRSSM founding chairman Prof Dr Jay Kandampully and UiTM rector Prof Dato Dr Jamil Hamali.