PUTRAJAYA. January 6 – Any development project below the value of RM50 million will be handed over almost entirely to Sabah and Sarawak with immediate effect. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the matter was agreed by the Ministry of Finance in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). Implementation (of the project) must be carried out in compliance with the regulations and finances set,” he said through a press conference after chairing the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
According to him, the process of finalizing the decision on the implementation of the project in the state involved was previously seen as time-consuming due to the need to go through the Federal Government first. The decision can be made in Kuching or Kota Kinabalu without delay because it is subject to the old rules he said. He said that there are some delayed matters such as the decision to expedite the implementation of some projects.
Because although there are Public Works Departments (JKR) in Sabah and Sarawak, there are many decisions in Putrajaya. So, although a large allocation was given, but the allocation could not be fulfilled due to administrative red tape following normal rules that had to refer to the Federation he explained. In the same development, Anwar said, the Sabah State Legislative Assembly (DUN) will finalize matters related to the regulation of gas supply next month.
