Sarawak is entitled to receive a special interim payment similar to that granted to Sabah, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
Anwar, who also serves as Finance Minister, said the payment is in line with the understanding reached under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
He revealed that negotiations with the Sarawak government, led by Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Abang Openg, are currently underway to finalise the payment.
The Prime Minister gave his assurance that discussions would continue, adding that the amount should be increased in keeping with the spirit and objectives of MA63.
“We are continuing negotiations with Sarawak, with the latest discussions having taken place in Bintulu and Kuching.
“We have not announced the outcome because we wanted to focus on the RM1.8 billion that has been granted to the Federal Government for the first time,” he said during the Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday.
Anwar was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Brodi (GPS–Sri Aman), who asked whether Sarawak would receive a special interim payment similar to Sabah.
He said the negotiations involve the Sarawak State Secretary and the Treasury Secretary-General, followed by discussions under the MA63 Technical Committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
According to Anwar, approval for the special interim payment is expected in the near future, with negotiations between the Treasury Secretary-General and the Sarawak State Secretary already in progress.
