MIRI – A state assemblyman has called on the Sarawak government to demand for more financial allocations from Putrajaya as the state now has a premier as the chief administrator of the state.
During the state assembly sittings today, Telian assemblyman Royston Valentine said that the premier status meant that the federal government must no longer view Sarawak as just another state.
“Sarawak must be given a much bigger amount of financial allocations from Putrajaya.
“Sarawak is no longer just another state as our premier is not just another chief minister. The federal government must increase its allocations to this state accordingly so that the developments here can be enhanced,” he said.
The Constitution of the State of Sarawak (Amendment) Bill 2022, which contains a clause to change the designation of “chief minister” to “premier”, was passed by the state assembly yesterday.
Valentine said this definitely puts Sarawak above other states in the federation of Malaysia.
Yesterday, state Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the amendment was in accordance with the amendment of the federal constitution enforced last week.
Explaining the adoption of “premier” to substitute “chief minister” under Article 6(3) of the Sarawak constitution, he said a similar arrangement is practised in other Commonwealth regions.
“The head of the federation is styled as prime minister and the heads of regions constituting the federation are styled as premiers, while the other subregions or states are headed by chief ministers,” he said.
Also proposed in the bill is the redesignation of “assistant minister” to “deputy minister”.
Karim said the redesignation was necessary in view of the responsibilities that they hold and exercise.
“The designation of ‘assistant minister’ is restyled as ‘deputy minister’ to better reflect their functions and responsibilities,” he added. – The Vibes, February 16, 2022
