SIBU, Jan 7 ― The federal government has in principle agreed to return autonomy in education and health to Sarawak, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

He said this is part of the move to further strengthen Sarawak’s rights as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and details on the matter are being worked out.

"Yes, that (the return of autonomy of education and health to Sarawak) is already in principle agreed. So, we are now working on the detailing part,” the Petra Jaya MP told reporters when met after his walkabout at Sibu Central Market today.

Fadillah made this response to a question of whether the return of autonomy of education and health to Sarawak would be among the agenda during the MA63 Action Council’s first meeting slated for early February in Kuching.

He also mentioned one of the meeting’s agenda would be to finalise the special allocation for Sabah and Sarawak under 112D of the Federal Constitution.

"The meeting could be held latest by early February — there is no definitive date yet but that is the indication,” he said.

Fadillah said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants the first meeting to be held in Kuching.

"This is to coincide with his first official visit (as prime minister) outside of Peninsula. So, his first official visit will be in Sarawak,” he said.

On a separate note, the walkabout at the market was his first official visit to Sibu in his capacity as deputy prime minister.

He toured the central market before having breakfast at the hawker centre at Level 1 of the market.

Among those present were Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng, Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Michael Tiang, Sibu Resident Wong Hee Sieng, Temenggong Dato Vincent Lau and Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting. ― Borneo Post