Prime Minister Expected To Announce Interim Measures For Sarawak’s Claims On Malaysia Day
KOTA KINABALU: An interim measure regarding Sarawak's long-standing claims is expected to be announced in conjunction with the Malaysia Day Celebration in Kuching on 16 September.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he would continue discussions with Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg in the next few days to detail the matter.
"Regarding Sarawak, I remember that although it is not included in Article 112D of the Federal Constitution, the same principle should be taken into account.
"So therefore I will continue to discuss with the Sarawak Premier in these few days.
"Hopefully as soon as 16 September, Malaysia Day in Kuching, I can also announce interim measures for Sarawak," he said.
He said this in a press conference after chairing the 1963 Malaysia Agreement Implementation Action Council (MTPMA63) meeting at the Sabah International Convention Center (SICC) here, on Friday.
Earlier, Datuk Seri Anwar said the Federal Government agreed to increase the interim payment to Sabah to RM1.5 billion beginning this year while negotiations continued regarding the claim for 40 per cent of the Federal net revenue from Sabah.
According to him, the payment is an interim measure while negotiations continue, taking into account the financial position and the previously agreed matters.
In the meantime, the Prime Minister said that Sarawak had also put forward views on the need to introduce a more comprehensible formula.
"Sarawak also put forward a view on the formula that should be introduced so that it is more comprehensible.
"The formula takes into account the country's financial position, the capacity, what is the minimum and the maximum that can be considered.
"I have agreed to this and have instructed the Ministry of Finance and Sarawak to discuss introducing the formula," he said.
Meanwhile, Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari welcomed the outcome of the discussion, particularly on the agreement to determine a win-win formula between Sarawak and the Federal Government.
"I extend my thanks for the discussion and the results we have achieved.
"And I also extend my thanks for the agreement to determine the formula that will achieve a win-win situation between Sarawak and the Federal Government,” he explained. -UKASnews
