Committee to discuss regional issues to be formed

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Fadillah (sitting in the middle) and flanked by Wan Junaidi on his right and Riot at the press conference.

KUCHING: There will be a further discussion on the setting up of a committee to look into the regional issues of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.

Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) parliamentary chief whip Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the committee is to look into issues raised and debated by the people in the three regions of the nation – Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.

“The issue of Sarawak as a region in Malaysia is very important to us in Sarawak, so there will be further discussions on the setting up of a committee among the three regions to look into details like the legal aspect and so on,” Fadillah told a press conference yesterday after leading GPS members of parliament to meet Chief Minister Datuk

Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at the State Legislative (DUN) complex.

Fadillah said the 20 per cent oil royalty to Sarawak promised by Pakatan Harapan during the 14th general election which was discussed during a meeting with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on

Thursday with the 14 GPS MPs would be brought up by the committee.

“From the Prime Minister’s point of view, there are some constraints to implement the 20 per cent oil royalty,” the Petra Jaya MP said.

However, Fadillah said Sarawak has its own strategy to address the issue and that Petros and Petronas are still discussing the matter.

He said the meeting with the Prime Minister also discussed autonomy and devolution of power as spelt out under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), dilapidated schools in the state, and the continuation of projects approved in the state by the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.

Fadillah added among the projects are building and repair of schools, roads, the RM1 billion Batang Lupar Bridge, water and electricity supply, hospitals and the RM310 million Industrial Training Institute in Serian.

According to Fadillah, Dr Mahathir was accommodating to the views and suggestions of the GPS MPs and willing to work together for the sake of the people.

Among those at the conference were Serian MP Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem and Santubong MP Dato Sri Wan Jinaidi Tuanku Jaafar.