BINTULU: The Sarawak Government is determined to continue the endeavour to claim the rights of this region as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) to ensure that the promises of the full formation of this country are implemented.
According to Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg, close cooperation with the Federal Government under the leadership of Prime Minister, Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim has achieved much progress in restoring Sarawak's rights that have been eroded.
Among them is the amendment to the Federal Constitution in 2021 where the Sarawak Governor, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who was then the Minister of Law, was also involved in the process of restoring Sarawak's status as an equal partner in the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
"Sarawak now has regulatory authority over liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), an important resource in the energy sector. The Sarawak Government-owned company, PETROS, has been appointed as the sole gas aggregator in Sarawak.
"In addition, we have successfully elevated the Public Works Department (JKR), the Sarawak Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPS) and the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) to be recognised as Technical Departments.
"This opens up more space for us to implement our own development projects without being overly dependent on federal agencies," he said when speaking at the 2025 Sarawak-Level Malaysia Day Celebration Assembly at the Old Airport, here on Tuesday.
The ceremony was officiated by the Sarawak Governor, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and was also attended by his wife, Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi.
In addition, Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari said that Sarawak now has a permanent representative in the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) through an amendment to the IRB Act, empowering the region to participate in determining the country's tax policy.
This includes successfully bringing amendments to the Sarawak Labour Ordinance to ensure that existing labour laws reflect local realities and protect workers' rights, he added.
"We have also successfully changed the status of Bintulu Port from a Federal Port to a Sarawak Port. This opens up greater opportunities for us to expand the logistics and international trade sector through Bintulu Port.
"Recently, on 12 September 2025, Sarawak hosted the MA63 Implementation Action Council Meeting chaired by the Prime Minister in Kuching, once again reaffirming the Federal Government's commitment to restoring these rights.
"In addition, it was also agreed that the Cabinet will submit a proposal paper for amendments to the Federal Constitution to enable the appointment of Judicial Commissioners in Sarawak and Sabah to be confirmed by the respective Governors," he stressed.
He said Sarawak is also moving towards taking over full power to determine the state's own environmental policies and direction according to the needs, interests and aspirations of the people of the state.
Also present were the daughter of the Sarawak Premier, Dayang Norjihan, Sarawak Deputy Premiers, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, and Datuk Amar Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian, Speaker of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar, Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development and Minister-In-Charge of Sarawak-Level Malaysia Day Celebration, Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Ministers, Sarawak Secretary, Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Deputy Ministers, Deputy Sarawak Secretaries, heads of departments and other dignitaries. -UKASnews
