KUCHING: Sarawak will defend its autonomy over local government based on the Federal Constitution and Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), says Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg.
He said “no outsiders” were capable of taking over the local government as long as the state was ruled by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), in an obvious reference to Pakatan Harapan.
It had been reported that federal Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin had paid a courtesy call on Abang Johari and put forward her plan to standardise local government administration in the country.
Speaking at the local councillors’ swearing-in ceremony today, Abang Johari said there had been attempts in the past by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government to “streamline” the local government administration.
“They think that they have the authority to do so throughout Malaysia. I reject this because in Sarawak, the local government is safeguarded by MA63.
“Maybe the PH government is new and unaware of this,” he said after the event.
Abang Johari declined to give details of what changes Zuraida had proposed to him.
During the event, 765 councillors were appointed for the 2019-2021 term, with 318 new faces and 447 reappointments. - FMT
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