Fadillah’s appointment expected to expedite Sarawak’s pursuit of education autonomy

KUCHING: The recent appointment of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) senior vice president Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof as the minister overseeing Sabah and Sarawak affairs is expected to speed up the application process for Sarawak’s pursuit of education autonomy under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

Deputy Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Minister Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee said the bureaucratic hurdles might have impeded the realisation of Sarawak’s rights as laid down in MA63.

Stressing the significance of autonomy, Dr Annuar said decentralising powers is pivotal to prevent obstacles in educational advancement in Sarawak.

He underlined that frequent changes in ministerial leadership could disrupt policies, adversely impacting Sarawak. Dr Annuar expressed optimism that granting autonomy could mitigate these challenges by ensuring consistency and firmness in policies.

“Alhamdulillah, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof has been appointed to oversee the affairs of Sarawak and Sabah. I believe that with this appointment, it can expedite the ongoing processes.

“We need a decentralisation of power to avoid hindering educational development in Sarawak. I see the most critical aspect being the occurrence of changes not only in the political realm but also in the minister’s role.

“When ministers change, policies change, and the same goes for principles. This has repercussions on Sarawak, and if autonomy is granted, it can address this policy inconsistency, allowing us to be firm, which is what we desire,” he said in a dialogue over TVS last night.

Dr Annuar cited the 18-point agreement of MA63, specifically highlighting point 14, which unequivocally states that half of education policies must fall under the purview and control of the state government.

He stressed the importance of adhering to these agreements to ensure the effective implementation of policies and to avoid the flip-flop scenario that has been observed in the past due to changes in ministerial responsibilities.

“Most importantly, in Sarawak, we do not want policies to constantly change as they negatively impact the progress of education.

“With autonomy, we ensure that all good policies are continued, and not subject to change just because there is a change in ministers.

“We hope for the realisation of this autonomy, if not in full, at least with many essential policies being referred to the Sarawak government.

“This is because Sarawak’s needs, interests, and vast geographical differences require attention from the federal government,” he added.