Sarawak looking to negotiate new terms for special grant

How is everyone doing?: Abang Johari speaking with several of his Gedong constituents during the Hari Raya gathering. — Bernama

KUCHING: Sarawak is negotiating with the Federal Government for its annual special grant to be based on a revenue-sharing formula instead of a fixed amount.

The state’s Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said in principle, the amount of the grant under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution should be based on the nation’s revenue.

“If the country is doing well, you share (the wealth). If the country is not doing well, we share the burden together.

“What we don’t want is for the Federal Government to make money but not share it with us.

“But we are very practical and pragmatic. If the revenue is less, then the grant will be less.

“We also must be concerned about the financial position of the Federal Government,” he told reporters after attending a Hari Raya gathering with his Gedong constituents here yesterday.

Abang Johari said Sarawak’s position was different from that of Sabah, which agreed last month for the grant to be increased from RM26.7mil to RM125.6mil this year.

“Sabah is Sabah, we are Sarawak. For us, it must be based on certain principles.

“No amount has been decided for Sarawak because I insisted on the formula,” he said, adding that the formula was now under negotiation.

In his speech earlier, Abang Johari said the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state coalition aimed to win all 31 parliamentary seats in the coming general election to ensure a strong voice from Sarawak.

He said this would enable the state government to fight more effectively for Sarawak’s rights in accordance with the Federal Constitution and Malaysia Agreement 1963.

“We don’t want more than that and we don’t want less. And we want to play our role to strengthen Malaysia as a nation,” he added.