Negotiations on devolution of authority to Sabah ongoing
KUALA LUMPUR: Negotiations are ongoing for the devolution of authority from the Federal Government to the Sabah and Sarawak state governments, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina binti Othman Said.
She said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in August 2015 had announced that more administrative powers involving federal departments and agencies would be given to Sabah and Sarawak state governments to spur development in both states.
Later on September 16, 2015, she said Najib announced more details in empowering the Sabah and Sarawak governments that involved devolution of power in administrative matters to be done in stages based on the provisions enshrined in the Federal Constitution and Malaysian laws.
In this respect, Azalina said a Joint Committee to Review Administrative Empowerment to Sabah and Sarawak State Governments had been set up by the government.
On May 11, 2016, she said the Cabinet had agreed to carry out the devolution of authority to Sabah and Sarawak governments based on the rights and autonomous rights stipulated in the Federal Constitution.
“It was agreed that Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Hajah Nancy binti Haji Shukri, together with the Attorney General’s Chambers, would study the rights and autonomous power provided under the Federal Constitution to Sabah and Sarawak governments, including the existing regulations in devolution of authority to both states.”
Following the cabinet’s decision, she said the Steering and Technical Committee had been formed comprising representatives from Sabah and Sarawak governments, and the Federal Government.
She said the Technical Committee on the Devolution of Authority to Sabah and Sarawak chaired by the Attorney General and involved representatives from Sabah and Sarawak governments, as well as the Federal Government, had held three meetings on August 10, 2016, September 27, 2016 and December 1, 2016.
The matters discussed in the Technical Committee meetings were then brought up for further consideration at the Steering Committee level, she said.
Meanwhile, Azalina said the Steering Committee on the Devolution of Authority to Sabah and Sarawak, jointly chaired by Anifah and Nancy, had a meeting on July 25 this year.
“The Steering Committee meeting was attended by federal ministers from Sabah and Sarawak.”
She added that the next Technical Committee meeting will be held in January 2018.
Azalina said negotiations with the relevant parties were still ongoing for the devolution of authority.
“Since negotiations are ongoing and have yet to be finalized, details of the meetings cannot be disclosed to the public.
“What transpired in the meetings are classified information,” she said.
Nevertheless, she said the process of devolution of power and authority reflected the Federal Government’s seriousness and commitment in seeking the best solution to the issues raised by the Sabah and Sarawak governments.
Azalina said that in reply to Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary General Senator Datuk Yong Wui Chung’s question to the Prime Minister on the challenges and obstacles faced by the government in expediting the review of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and efforts to convince people of Sabah and Sarawak that they were not being neglected during the Dewan Negara sitting here.