KUCHING, Sept 15 — Acting Governor Tan Sri Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar today said the state has received a total of RM13.3 billion from the 5 per cent sales and service tax (SST) imposed on oil and gas from Petronas between January 2019 and April this year.
He said the funds have greatly helped Sarawak to finance infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, treated water and electricity supplies, housing, telecommunications, health, education, and welfare of the people.
“Accordingly, appreciation must be given to Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg and the state Cabinet for their success in developing Sarawak through the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), which aims to ensure Sarawak that will reach the developed status by 2030,” Asfia said in his Malaysia Day’s message marking the 60 years in the formation of Malaysia, tomorrow.
He said he believes that Vision 2030 can be achieved by taking into account all the necessary policies that have been planned and implemented by the state government.
Moreover, he said the World Bank has already declared Sarawak as a high-income state early this year.
The acting governor said he always believed the Federation of Malaysia to be the best agreement for Sarawak to achieve development through the creation of a bigger and united nation, consisting of people with various races and religions.
“I am happy that the federal leadership has recognised the importance of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) by giving more autonomy on a number of matters to Sarawak since the time of Pehin Sri Adenan Satem as the chief minister in 2014,” he said, these include recognising Sarawak as one of the three regions that form the federation.
He said Abang Johari has also done a lot to strive for further negotiations with the federal government on pending unsolved matters enshrined in MA63 to be sorted out.
