We’re still waiting to meet Rafizi on Padu, says Abang Jo

Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg previously expressed reservations concerning the Padu registration exercise. (UKAS pic)

PETALING JAYA: The Sarawak government is still waiting on Rafizi Ramli’s economy ministry for a meeting over the state’s concerns regarding the central database hub (Padu).

While Rafizi said last month his ministry’s officials would meet with the state government in early April to discuss issues involving the Padu registration exercise, Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg said they have yet to meet the federal officials.

“So far, no. We are still waiting (for a meeting),” he said when asked by reporters at the state government’s Aidilfitri open house in Kuching today.

Abang Johari and other Sarawak leaders had expressed reservations concerning Padu, with the premier saying the database should not collect excessive information unrelated to one’s financial status.

Sarawak later halted registrations for Padu just before the March 31 deadline set by Putrajaya.

On March 25, Rafizi said his officials would hold a meeting with the state government the following week over its concerns on Padu.

Meanwhile, Abang Johari said the federal and Sarawak governments are working on the funding mechanism for federal projects that will be financed by the state government first to expedite its implementation.

This initiative, announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim last month, will see Sarawak building or upgrading clinics and schools in place of dilapidated ones and Putrajaya will reimburse the state later on.

“The prime minister and I have agreed on this, the (finance) officers have also agreed on the method, but what’s important now is the mechanism for them to reimburse the funds, which is between the finance ministry and our side.

“There is a committee (handling this) chaired by the Sarawak state secretary and the secretaries-general of the federal education and health ministries.

“What’s important is that we are expediting this. I want to thank the prime minister because this is the first time where the state pays first and the federal government reimburses us.”

Abang Johari said health and education in Sarawak were still the federal government’s responsibility for now, but there was a need to expedite such projects.

He said talks with the federal government on giving Sarawak health and education autonomy were going on.

He also said he expected the state-owned airline to be operational in 2025, provided the takeover of MASwings goes smoothly.