Sarawak govt's rep in IRB still being finalised - Abang Johari

 

The appointment of a Sarawak government representative on the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) is still being finalised, said Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president Abang Johari Openg.

However, the Sarawak premier said the federal government expressed a preference for a non-governmental official instead of the proposed candidate, Sarawak financial secretary Wan Lizozman Wan Omar.

He said the reason given was that there was a sufficient number of governmental officials on the board.

This follows a previous report in May that the federal government had not responded regarding the candidate the Sarawak government proposed to be its representative on the IRB.

“PBB supreme council members Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Fadillah Yusof have been instructed to look into the appointment of an individual to represent Sarawak at the board,” Abang Johari (above) was quoted as saying by The Borneo Post.

He said this at a press conference after chairing a PBB supreme council meeting yesterday.

The PBB president added that Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Parliament) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar would study Wan Lizozman’s appointment from a legal perspective before presenting his views to the federal government.

The proposed membership on the IRB board was one of Sarawak’s demands to the federal government.

Other demands that were under negotiation included the issue of judicial administration in Sabah and Sarawak and the proposed recognition of the Sarawak Public Works Department, Sarawak Irrigation and Drainage Department, and Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department as technical departments under Treasury Instructions 182.

Also included were the proposed increase in the number of Dewan Rakyat members from Sabah and Sarawak in Parliament and a discussion on the special grant review formula under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution. - Mkini