No need to establish special ministry for Sabah, Sarawak

 

PARLIAMENT | There is no need to create a special ministry to handle Sabah and Sarawak affairs to avoid the possibility of overlapping functions with existing federal ministries.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Duties) Armizan Mohd Ali said the Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Division (BHESS) under the Prime Minister’s Department was established in March 2020.

He adds that the BHESS was established to address all issues pertaining to the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

“So, for me, there shouldn’t be overlapping functions.

Let the BHESS function as the secretariat so that we can propose negotiations between the Federal and the Sabah and Sarawak governments without interfering with ministerial functions in each ministry.

“I think we need to maintain the commitment to empowerment and devolution of authority (to Sabah and Sarawak) without establishing a special ministry in charge of Sabah and Sarawak affairs.

“In doing so, we want to avoid overlapping functions with federal ministries which would ultimately affect the efforts to devolve powers to the Sabah and Sarawak governments," he said.

Armizan said this during the Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He adds the Federal Government’s commitment to solving the water supply issues in Sabah would also not interfere with the state government's jurisdiction, rights and interests.

“Water is under the state’s jurisdiction as stated in List II Schedule Nine of the Federal Constitution.

“So, no need to worry.

“The Federal Government under the leadership of Tambun MP (Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim) will always respect the rights and interests of state governments, including the additional power for Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.

The minister said this in reply to Lo Su Fui (GRS-Tawau), who asked about the government’s commitment to resolving water woes in Sabah as pledged at the Unity Government National Convention on May 14.

At the convention, Anwar said he would talk to Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Nor and Kelantan Menteri Besar Ahmad Yakob to find solutions to the water woes in the two states.

The Prime Minister said he remained committed to finding solutions to the issue after receiving input from the state leaders regarding the long-standing problems plaguing the states.

- Bernama