KUCHING: The first phase of devolution of power announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak shows the federal administration has confidence in the ability of the state leadership under Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.
PBB Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the confidence was a good sign for Sarawakians, apart from upholding the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement signed in 1963.
“This is really good and happy news for all Malaysians, especially when it was announced in conjunction with Malaysia Day. This makes the celebration even more meaningful,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Abdul Karim, who is also Asajaya assemblyman, was commenting on Najib’s statement on Wednesday on the federal government’s agreement to give authority to federal government directors in the state to make major decisions without having to refer to their counterparts in Putrajaya.
Najib added that the state government would also be empowered so that priority for projects involving rural areas, infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and so on could be decided and implemented by them.
Abdul Karim, who is also Assistant Minister of Social Development, said the decision of the federal government also showed what was said by Adenan was true.
“Our chief minister was correct when he said there was no prime minister before this who has done many things for Sarawak like Najib.
“I, myself, have lost count of how many times the prime minister came to Sarawak since the last general election. The latest announcement on the devolution of power to the state government is well received by Sarawakians.”
Meanwhile, the chairman of state Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club Abdullah Saidol said he was not exactly sure what it meant by ‘empowering the directors of federal government departments to make decisions without referring to their counterpart in Putrajaya’.
“You can call it devolution or empowering or whatever, the most important to me is that the development fund upon request by the state government must be managed by the state government through the respective ministries or agencies.
“Planning, monitoring, implementation and appointment of the respective contractors including consultants must also be absolutely with the state government.”
Abdullah who is Semop assemblyman said he had no doubt that the state administration, including all the relevant agencies, were equally capable of handling all the necessary administration on any development of any scale.
“Those federal officers at the state level are expected to coordinate the administrative necessaries to ensure that our request for the fund is fully understood by those in Putrajaya and to expedite the transfer of funds to the state without much ado.”
He said the agenda to ensure balanced development between the urban and rural areas in Sarawak was urgent and should not remain a rhetoric for too long especially at federal level.
“Our chief minister’s desire and commitment to close the socio economic gap between rural and urban areas is proven through the last state budget and his request for extra budget specifically for rural development. But that’s not enough…federal funding is very much required.”
Abdullah said the sentiment at state-level, especially among the rural state assembly persons that the federal government must understand was that “we are not interested in waiting much longer”.
“The rural people are becoming restless. They still believe in Barisan Nasional in Sarawak, especially under the leadership of Adenan but they want their representatives to work harder and voice their needs louder.”
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