{"id":21070,"date":"2023-05-26T01:50:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-25T17:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rakansarawak.com\/v3\/?p=21070"},"modified":"2023-05-25T16:30:43","modified_gmt":"2023-05-25T08:30:43","slug":"understanding-and-safeguarding-sarawaks-constitutional-rights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rakansarawak.com\/v4\/2023\/05\/26\/understanding-and-safeguarding-sarawaks-constitutional-rights\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding and Safeguarding Sarawak\u2019s Constitutional Rights"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It is important for Sarawakians to be aware of not only their own constitutional rights, but also the safeguards accorded to Sarawak for being part of the Federation of Malaysia under the Malaysia Agreement (MA63).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These safeguards, according to Sarawak State Legal Counsel YBhg Dato Sri Fong Joo Chung, \u201cinclude special revenue sources, taxation power to impose State Sales Tax, and greater legislative and executive authorities most enjoyed by the Malayan States.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spoke of this in his keynote address \u2018Reclaiming Sarawak’s Rights under MA63: Greater Financial Autonomy and Better Opportunities for Sarawakians\u2019 during the first edition of SwinTalk Series 2023 at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus (Swinburne Sarawak), Kuching on 24 May 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n

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YBhg Dato Sri Fong Joo Chung delivering his keynote address<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

In it, he provided an overview of MA63 from Sarawak\u2019s perspective, the erosion of certain constitutional rights throughout the decades, and efforts undertaken to reclaim them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also explained how by protecting its rights as enshrined in the agreement can the State possess the ability to better utilise its own natural resources such as timber, mineral and oil and gas, as well as earn its own revenue in order to accelerate its socio-economic growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This in turn provides opportunities for Sarawakians to contribute to their home state\u2019s progress, especially as the Sarawak Government is currently pursuing a development that is technologically and sustainably driven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To strengthen its human capital, YBhg Dato Sri Fong noted that the Government is in the midst of seeking for greater autonomy in terms of health and education.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Sarawak State Legal Counsel YBhg Dato Sri Fong Joo Chung’s keynote address \u2018Reclaiming Sarawak’s Rights under MA63: Greater Financial Autonomy and Better Opportunities for Sarawakians\u2019 during SwinTalk Series 2023 #1 at Swinburne Sarawak on 24 May 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Achieving this will enable the establishment of health and education-related facilities, amenities and centres that can enhance the people\u2019s quality of life and boost Sarawak\u2019s position as an investment destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs long as these constitutional safeguards are entrenched, Sarawak\u2019s rights to her rich mineral resources and boundaries are respected, and the financial resources are well managed, the State would be able to progress towards a high-income economy by 2030 with opportunities for all Sarawakians and the eventual eradication of poverty and the hardcore poor,\u201d he surmised.<\/p>\n\n\n

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It is important for young Sarawakians to understand and safeguard Sarawak’s constitutional rights as they play their part in driving socio-economic progress. File photo <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The SwinTalk Series is a quarterly talk organised by Swinburne Sarawak\u2019s Faculty of Business, Design and Arts in collaboration with industry partners. Its primary goal is to foster knowledge development and facilitate the sharing of experiences and mentorship with Swinburne’s Entrepreneurship Hub and members of the public.<\/p>\n

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