SIBU: Around 70 percent of federal projects can be managed by the Sarawak state government itself without referring to the federal government.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said this after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's address last Wednesday allowing the implementation of any project under the cost of RM50 million to be decided almost fully by the Sabah and Sarawak state governments.

According to him, the projects within this range of cost, including schools, clinics, fire stations and other rural projects, can be implemented by the Sarawak state public works department.

The decision is very meaningful to Sarawak in its efforts to speed up development especially in the rural areas.

"This is the position when we can form the government together and our voices are heard, and what's important is GPS's (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) role in forming the Unity Government is recognised," he said during his speech at the 2023 GPS Malam Mesra event at Kelab Melayu Kampung Nyabor Hall here last night.


The deputy prime minister also said that GPS had played a role in ensuring the country's political stability following the recent 15th general election.

Therefore, every GPS component needed to ensure that the Unity Government would last for the upcoming give year period in the interest of development for the people of Sarawak.

Fadillah arrived here on his first official visit as deputy prime minsiter yesterday.

In his speech during lunch with state and federal department heads, along with various community leaders in Sibu at the LAKIS Hall earlier, he said the spirit of unity displayed by all Sarawakians can be translated to create a stable Unity Government and develop a united country.

If everyone in the community can play their respective roles in spurring the spirit of unity, it will enable the government to focus on the country's development, especially from an economic aspect, which would lead to further prosperity.

-- BERNAMA