Joint committee studying devolution of power
KUALA LUMPUR: The scope of administrative empowerment to the East Malaysian states is currently being thoroughly studied by the Joint Committee to Review Administrative Empowerment to Sabah and Sarawak (JBMES).
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Hajah Nancy Shukri said the administrative empowerment would be implemented in accordance with the Federal Constitution and existing laws.
She said the administrative empowerment would concentrate on operational and administrative functions without causing legal implications that require amendments to the Federal Constitution or existing laws.
Nancy said this in response to Barisan Nasional (BN) Senator Datuk Chin Su Phin’s question to the Prime Minister on when the government would consider granting autonomy or devolution of power to Sabah and Sarawak, as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963, during the Dewan Negara sitting here.
Nancy said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had announced more administrative power on federal departments and agencies to be granted to Sabah and Sarawak state governments when launching the National Month and Jalur Gemilang Campaign 2015 in Kuching last August.
On September 16 last year, Nancy said Najib further announced the devolution of power in administration progressively to the Sabah and Sarawak state governments.
Since taking over the leadership of the country, Nancy said Najib had embarked on more frequent working visits to Sabah and Sarawak.
“The Prime Minister’s approach is not just reading reports in Putrajaya, but to hear and see for himself the infrastructure and social developments, as well as discuss with local leaders in East Malaysia.”
She said the close relations between Najib and local leaders in Sabah and Sarawak had enabled the Federal Government to understand the aspirations and desires of the people and leadership of the East Malaysian states.
Hence, Nancy said Najib and the Federal Government, together with the state governments of Sabah and Sarawak, agreed to begin the devolution of power, namely granting both states administrative empowerment.
“This is a far-sighted and visionary leadership approach taken by the Prime Minister and Federal Government in an effort to propel developments in Sabah and Sarawak.”