Sarawak hopes MA63 funding measures feature in Budget 2027

SARAWAK: Sarawak is hoping that matters discussed under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), particularly those involving funding allocations for the state, will be reflected in Budget 2027.

Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said Sarawak is looking forward to the Budget announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Oct 9 to see whether there would be an increase in allocations for the state.

“Our hope is that what has been discussed under MA63 can be implemented, from the perspective of funding injection.

“We will see what will be presented by the Prime Minister,” he told reporters after officiating at the Sarawak SOEs Transformation Programme: A Pledge for Good Governance, High Performance and Value Creation Phase 2 here today (Sept 22).

Abang Johari was responding to questions on Sarawak’s expectations for Budget 2027 and whether the state anticipated additional funding in line with discussions under MA63.

Meanwhile, he said the state government had identified several state-owned enterprises (SOEs) that might no longer require financial injections from the state government.

However, he said the details would only be known when Sarawak’s Budget 2027 is presented.

“There will be several SOEs that will be discontinued from receiving injections. This is the same as what I explained just now; that is the policy direction.

“We will wait for the Budget. It has not been presented yet,” he said.