KUCHING: The discussions on determining the allocation formula under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution are still in progress and have not been finalised.
Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof, said even though the state government has already put forward its proposal, careful and comprehensive discussions are required before any decision can be reached.
According to him, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) has conducted discussions with the Sabah Government and will next hold similar engagements with the Sarawak Government to refine the matter.
“The federation is also viewing this from their perspective, so it is hoped that through these meetings, we will be able to finalise the best formula to safeguard national interests as well as the interests enshrined in the Constitution, where Sabah and Sarawak have special rights in terms of allocations,” he said.
He told reporters this after attending the annual grant presentation for mosques and suraus in the Petra Jaya parliamentary constituency at Masjid Darul Ibadah, Kampung Semariang Lama, on Saturday.
Fadillah, who also chairs the Technical Committee under the Action Council for the Implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MTPMA63), said the formula will only be finalised after a report is presented to the committee for consideration.
Sarawak has proposed that 20 per cent of the total revenue or taxes collected from the state be returned, in a move aimed at ensuring a fairer and more flexible distribution.
Earlier at the same event, 30 mosques and 60 suraus within the Petra Jaya constituency received grants totalling RM330,000 to assist with management and the organisation of religious and community-based activities.
Fadillah said the financial assistance is intended to ease administrative burdens while enabling mosques and suraus to continue serving as hubs of unity and community development.
He underscored the need for consistent and targeted programmes to strengthen the institutions’ roles in addressing present-day challenges.
“This allocation is meant to help ease management needs, and if there are specific programmes, they may be submitted as usual.
“We are ready to support – not only myself but also Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations), Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali – in efforts to strengthen mosques and suraus because this is very important.
“Our challenge today is to ensure that the ummah is equipped with sufficient knowledge, encompassing both worldly and spiritual knowledge, as well as the skills needed to face present and future challenges,” he said.
He added that mosques and suraus must continue functioning as centres for unity, learning and dialogue, particularly in tackling local social issues.
