KUCHING: Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg will leave it to the federal government to decide on the issue of stamp duty revenue which was raised by the state and Sabah in their discussion with Putrajaya on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“Of course, the GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) government will be voting on that issue,” he told reporters after officiating the International Women’s Day celebration here today.
At the moment, stamp duty revenue goes to the federal coffers, although based on MA63, what is collected in Sarawak and Sabah should rightfully be retained by the two states.
This is because the administration of land matters in Sarawak and Sabah is under their Land Code.
Abang Johari said many matters were being discussed, adding: “I mention the Stamp Act because the prime minister (Dr Mahathir Mohamad) also mentioned it.”
Last Tuesday, Mahathir chaired a two-hour meeting to review MA63 and said there was little disagreement between the federal and the two state governments.
He said the Special Cabinet Committee (Steering Committee) to Review MA63 discussed several working papers and would refer most of them to the Technical Committee for an in-depth study.
Yesterday, de facto law minister VK Liew said the Cabinet had agreed to amend Article 1 (2) of the Federal Constitution to restore the status of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners with Peninsular Malaysia.
He said the amendment would be tabled at the new session of Parliament starting on Monday. - FMT
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