BY ABIDGAIL MERTA GANGGANG
IN a significant development under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), the federal government has agreed to conduct a review and raise the special grant allocated to Sarawak.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas announced that the special grant, mandated by Article 112C(1)(a) of the Federal Constitution, would undergo an increase as part of ongoing discussions and commitments.
“Sarawak took the initiative to propose the review of the special grant in 2012, and after years of deliberations, an agreement has been reached between the federal Ministry of Finance (MoF) and the Special Committee under MA63,” said the Second Minister for Finance and New Economy.
“The special grant, which serves as an exclusive additional source of revenue for Sarawak and Sabah, will see a substantial boost from the previous annual amount of RM16mil to an initial sum of RM300mil, starting from this year.”
He added that it was important to note that the final amount of the special grant would not be fixed but would be determined based on a mutually agreed-upon formula between the state and federal governments.
“The purpose of this review is to ensure a fair and equitable allocation of resources, aligning with Sarawak’s aspirations for sustainable development and progress,” he said in his ministerial winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting on today (May 24).
Uggah explained that the special grant review highlighted the strong collaboration between the state and federal governments in fulfilling their obligations under the Federal Constitution and MA63.
“The increased allocation of the special grant to Sarawak reflects the federal government’s commitment to addressing the unique needs and development priorities of the state.
“The additional funding will support Sarawak in enhancing infrastructure, social services, and various development initiatives, ultimately benefiting the people of Sarawak.”
