KUCHING, May 1 — Sarawak will have full autonomy in education and healthcare in addition to having its full rights under Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) returned if Pakatan Harapan (PH) takes over Putrajaya on May 9.

State DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen said it was crucial that the state had autonomy over education and healthcare to ensure that Sarawakians are well-served and do not fall behind other states in the country.

"Even if Sarawak regains its rights [under Barisan Nasional], you will find that healthcare and education is dictated by the Federal government,” he told a press conference here today.

He said the pact will form a special federal Cabinet committee to enforce the agreement listed under its "10 promises in 100 days” written in its GE14 manifesto.

The restoration of Sarawak’s rights in MA63 is one of the main campaign issues for PH as well as Barisan Nasional (BN) in the state in the elections just eight days away.

In addition, Chong said PH has pledged to increase the state’s oil royalty from the current 5 per cent to 20 per and return 50 per cent of all tax collected to Sarawak.

Chong will be locking horns with BN’s Sarawak United People’s Party president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian in the Stampin parliamentary seat.

He has been the incumbent Bandar Kuching MP for two terms before deciding to switch seats and challenge Dr Sim, who is the incumbent Batu Kawah assemblyman and the state’s local government minister.