MIRI – Sarawak will leave it to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to decide if its state polls can go ahead before the emergency proclamation ends on August 1.
Chief Minister Datuk Abang Johari Openg said ruling coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) wants to hold the state election as soon as allowed and if possible, before its assembly expires on June 7.
“As far as GPS is concerned, we are ready for the state election. However, we are in the midst of a national emergency. During this time, Sarawak is under the Agong’s command.
“Under these circumstances, only the Agong can decide if we can have the state election during the emergency,” he said during his visit to Long Terawan near Sg Baram in northern Sarawak. He was there this morning to launch an internet service project.
Meanwhile, Abang Johari said Sarawak wants to work closely with the federal government for development purposes.
He added that cooperation with Putrajaya is vital as Sarawak needs huge financial allocations yearly to meet the needs of the people.
Last week, he had said outstanding disputes between Sarawak and Putrajaya over the terms of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) could be settled in an “extended family” atmosphere.
He told Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin during a state dinner that Sarawak and the rest of Malaysia are one big extended family. Muhyiddin was in Sarawak for a two-day working visit on April 1 and 2.
“Sarawak is a family that can take care of itself. We see Putrajaya as our extended family.
“Therefore, with regard to outstanding matters relating to the MA63 agreement, we can settle them like an extended family.”
Abang Johari said he and the state government agree with Muhyiddin that the special council on MA63 is the forum to negotiate the state’s claims for higher oil and gas royalties, and more autonomy in areas such as tax revenue and education.
The MA63 special council will sit next week to discuss negotiations between Sarawak, Sabah, and Putrajaya. – The Vibes, April 6, 2021
