S’wak looks at Aussie model on health, education autonomy
Its deputy premier Dr Sim Kui Hian says Australia provides a useful reference point for Sarawak as it seeks greater state control over health and education under MA63.
Sarawak Deputy Premier Dr Sim Kui Hian has expressed his admiration for Australia's governance model, citing its approach to health and education as a potential reference for the Malaysian state's push for greater autonomy. Speaking at a photo exhibition in Kuching, Sim highlighted Australia's system where state governments hold authority over health and education, stating that it inspired Sarawak's pursuit of restoring rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
The deputy premier, who has resided in Melbourne for 17 years, drew parallels between Australia's use of the title "premier" for state heads and Sarawak's decision to change its chief minister to premier. He noted that Australia's government structures and human capital development provided valuable insights for Sarawak's own development strategies.
Sim emphasized that Sarawak's political stability, a legacy of a continuous coalition government since 1970, was crucial to its ability to focus on socioeconomic development. This stability, he argued, allowed the state to improve the lives of its people over an extended period. Sim's firsthand experience in Australia, combined with Sarawak's long-standing political continuity, positions the state as a potential model for governance and autonomy in Malaysia.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
