Abang Johari arrives at BCCK for the national-level Malaysia Day celebration. – Photo by Roystein Emmor
KUCHING (Sept 17): Sarawak’s push to strengthen its position under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) is aimed not only at restoring its rights but also at enabling the state to contribute more significantly to Malaysia and Asean, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said recent federal government commitments on parliamentary representation, revenue sharing and tourism were important steps towards recognising the position of Sarawak and Sabah within Malaysia.
“I would like to thank the Prime Minister for stating the federal government’s agreement to set the parliamentary representation ratio for Sarawak and Sabah at not less than one-third, as stipulated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the IGC Report,” he said in his speech at the national-level Malaysia Day celebration at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here on Wednesday night.
Abang Johari also thanked the federal government for agreeing to determine a formula for revenue sharing between Putrajaya and Sarawak under Article 112(D) of the Federal Constitution.
He said the agreement to place tourism under the Concurrent List would also create greater room for collaboration between the Federal and state governments in developing the sector.
“Recognition of the rights and special interests of Sabah and Sarawak is part of the national agenda,” he said.
Abang Johari said the progress made under MA63 should go hand in hand with Sarawak’s economic transformation, particularly in green energy, technology, industry and regional development.
He said Bintulu had been selected as one of 43 Transitioning Industrial Clusters (TIC) worldwide under the World Economic Forum and the first in Malaysia.
At the same time, he said Tanjung Embang in southern Sarawak was being developed as a low-carbon hub supported by a new international airport and deep-sea port.
The project was expected to attract total investments of about RM100 billion in the coming decades, he said.
Abang Johari also highlighted Sarawak’s growing role in cross-border energy supply, including electricity exports to Kalimantan, Indonesia, stronger connections with Sabah and plans to supply electricity to Brunei.
He said his recent delegation to the Asian Development Bank headquarters in Manila had also discussed Sarawak’s strategic development and its potential contribution to Malaysia and Asean, particularly through electricity generation and distribution.
“Energy from Sarawak has an increasingly important role in the development of Borneo and Asean,” he said.
Abang Johari said the transformation reflected the aspirations of Sarawak’s founding leaders when the state joined the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
“With close cooperation between the GPS government and the federal government, and with the stability that exists in Malaysia, I am confident Sarawak and Malaysia can reach the position of a developed and high-income region by 2030,” he said.
The event was attended by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and his wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor, Communications Minister and minister responsible for the event Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil, and State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister and minister responsible for the event Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.