Abg Johari grateful to Anwar

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CM praises Pakatan Harapan advisor for his assurance that the federal government would keep its word on restoring Sarawak’s rights under MA63

Abang Johari fields questions from reporters. — Photo by Chimon Upon

KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg extends his appreciation to advisor of Pakatan Harapan (PH) government Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for pledging to keep the promise of restoring Sarawak’s rights within the context of Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

“I thank Datuk Seri Anwar for willing to listen to our requests on MA63,” he said when met by reporters after presenting assistance to mosques and suraus here at Dewan Hikmah in Petra Jaya yesterday.

In an interview on Tuesday, Anwar gave his assurance that the PH government was committed to restoring the autonomy of Sarawak and Sabah in line with MA63.

When asked about the federal government’s study on KGT( Kenaikan Gaji Tahunan) the annual salary increment for the civil service, Abang Johari declined to give any comment, saying he had no knowledge of the subject matter.

When a reporter told him what KGT meant and that the PH government was conducting a study on it, Abang Johari said: “We will see the outcome of the study.”

When pressed whether the state Barisan Nasional (BN) government would follow suit, he replied: “I don’t know the subject matter. How can I comment?”

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said civil servants would not get the salary increment promised by BN before the election but the PH government would look into the feasibility of giving them allowances.

He said the government, in a move to reduce the number of civil servants in order to cut government spending, would cease the recruitment of political appointees but would re-engage those in critical posts and those with low salaries.