KUCHING, Aug 12 — Encouraged by Putrajaya’s talk on decentralisation, DAP lawmaker Chong Chieng Jen urged today Sarawak State Speaker Datuk Amar Asfia Awang Nasar to allow his proposal for a review of the 1963 Malaysia Agreement to be debated at the next assembly sitting on Monday.
The opposition assemblyman for Kota Sentosa who supports greater autonomy for Sarawak also wants the assembly to discuss amending the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution that covers federal and state powers during the one-day sitting next week.
“Now is the best time to debate on the motion in the light of an announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak last Monday that the federal and state governments are discussing on the devolution of powers,” Chong said.
He had submitted his motion for a review of the 1963 agreement last July 25.
Chong, who is also Sarawak DAP chairman, said the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution needs to be amended by Parliament following the passage of the motion by the State Assembly if the Borneo state is to gain more powers than it currently has.
He is seeking for the state to gain jurisdiction on education, health, internal security and taxation, which are currently controlled by Putrajaya.
“The devolution of autonomous powers covering these four areas should be discussed by the state and federal governments,” he said.
Chong said Sarawak should be allowed to have autonomy on taxation to enable the state to execute its autonomous powers over education, health and internal security.
“The state government must retain 50 per cent of the total tax collection in Sarawak. Apart from the 50 per cent, we should also have the 20 per cent oil and gas royalties,” he added.
“You cannot execute the autonomy if you do not have the money,” he stressed.
