KOTA SAMARAHAN, Dec 16 — The Sarawak government has requested the federal government recognise the state Public Works Department, state Drainage and Irrigation Department and the Rural Water Supply Department within one month, Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said today.

The state premier said the request has been submitted through Deputy Prime Minister II Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof for discussion and approval by the federal government.

"The issue on giving recognition to the three departments as technical departments are those which do not require much discussions,” he told reporters after launching the construction of phase one of the Kuching Urban Transportation System and Rembus depot here.

He said the state government wants all federal-funded projects in Sarawak to be implemented by these departments once they have accorded as technical departments.

Abang Johari, who is also Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman, said the other matter that the state government wants to sort out quickly with the federal government is the request to have the state’s representative with the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).

He said under the Inter-Government Committee (IGC) Report, there should be a representative from Sarawak to sit on the IRB.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had recently entrusted Fadillah to sort out matters relating to the implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) that do not require parliamentary approval within one month.

At a press conference on December 8, Fadilah had said he would discuss the Sarawak leadership solving issues relating to the MA63.

He said he had also asked Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali to discuss with Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor to see what the priorities are at the Sabah level.

He had said what could be solved within a month by the federal government would be solved while the rest would have to be brought to Parliament for approval.

He said he hoped matters that have been discussed before that can be finalised within the stipulated period.