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Christopher Gira SambangAdvertisement
By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 12: Sarawak deserves an increase in its interim special grant to at least RM1.5 billion annually, but more importantly, the federal government must establish a clear timeline for finalising a permanent formula that recognises Sarawak’s rights as a founding partner in the formation of Malaysia rather than treating the grant as merely an annual financial announcement.
Tamin assemblyman Ir Christopher Gira Sambang said Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) expects Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to announce a meaningful increase in Sarawak’s interim special grant during the Malaysia Day celebrations on Sept 16, while also outlining a roadmap towards a long-term constitutional solution.
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“An announcement made on Malaysia Day should reflect recognition of Sarawak’s rights as a founding partner in the formation of Malaysia, rather than being treated merely as an annual financial announcement,” he said in a statement today.
Gira, who is also PRS Youth chief, noted that Sarawak currently receives RM600 million under the interim special grant arrangement, compared with Sabah’s allocation of RM1.5 billion.
However, he stressed that the issue extends beyond the amount involved, as the special grant is a constitutional entitlement guaranteed under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution.
“This special grant is not financial assistance, an act of goodwill or a gift from the federal government. It is Sarawak’s constitutional right,” he said.
Pending the finalisation of a permanent formula, Gira said Sarawak should receive at least RM1.5 billion annually as an interim measure.
He added that while Sarawak and Sabah may receive similar interim allocations, Sarawak ultimately requires its own formula because the constitutional basis and circumstances of the two regions are not necessarily identical.
According to Gira, the formula should be transparent, auditable and mutually agreed upon by both the federal and Sarawak governments.
Among the factors that should be considered are federal taxes and revenues collected from Sarawak, the State’s contribution to the national economy, including the oil and gas sector, Sarawak’s geographical size and higher rural service delivery costs, population and infrastructure requirements, inflation, and the development gap between Sarawak and other regions.
“Sarawak’s formula should reflect the actual revenue collected by the federal government from Sarawak, as well as the substantial contribution of Sarawak’s natural resources to national development. We should not simply be given a figure without knowing how it was calculated,” he said.
Gira expressed that the formula could be reviewed every five years in keeping with the spirit of Article 112D to ensure that the grant remains relevant to current revenue levels, inflation and development needs.
“The interim approach cannot continue indefinitely without a clear deadline for resolution. Sarawak needs a permanent formula so that the special grant can be determined transparently and consistently and incorporated into the State’s long-term development planning,” he said.
He reiterated that while an increase to at least RM1.5 billion would be welcomed, the more significant outcome from the Malaysia Day announcement would be a firm federal commitment and timeline towards establishing a permanent mechanism for determining Sarawak’s constitutional entitlement. — DayakDaily
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