Details on Sarawak autonomy in health and education being worked out, says Fadillah

SIBU: Sarawak is set to have autonomy over education and health as the Federal Government has in principle agreed to it.

“Yes, that (the return of autonomy of education and health to Sarawak) is already in principle agreed (by the Federal Government. So, we are now working on the details,” said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof during his walkabout at the Sibu Central Market on Saturday (Jan 7).

Fadillah was asked by reporters whether the return of autonomy on education and health to Sarawak would be on the agenda during the MA63 Action Council’s first meeting which is expected to take place in early February in Kuching.

The Petra Jaya MP, who is also Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, said that one of the agendas during the meeting would be to finalise the special allocations for Sabah and Sarawak under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution.

Fadillah said he was happy to visit the Central Market as he had not been there for quite some time.

“I would say that this market is the best in Malaysia. You can’t find any place like this in Malaysia, I think people should come here. This can be a tourist attraction and so on.

“Many of my friends who visited this market said they were amazed at its cleanliness and that a variety of products could be found here,” he added.

After the walkabout, he had breakfast at a stall that his late father used to frequent.

Among those accompanying him were state Deputy Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee, state Deputy Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister Michael Tiang, Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng, and Sibu Municipal Council chairman Clarence Ting.