{
  "id": 14885889,
  "title": "MA63: Sarawak says increase in interim special grant is not a final solution",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/ma63-sarawak-says-increase-in-interim-special-grant-is-not-a-final",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T06:15:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1556757/ma63-sarawak-says-increase-interim-special-grant-not-final-solution"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUCHING - Deputy Minister Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali clarified that the recent RM1.5 billion interim special grant to Sarawak is not the ultimate resolution, emphasizing the need for a consistent formula in accordance with Article 112D of the Federal Constitution. She reiterated the Sarawak government's push for a formula to determine the rate of the special grant. The Sarawak and Federal governments are still discussing the proposed formula, with no final agreement reached yet. During a question-and-answer session at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, Sharifah Hasidah responded to a query from Royston Valentine (GPS-Tellian) regarding the latest status of claims under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) resulting from the interim special grant. When asked about Sarawak's stance in case of a change in the Federal administration, she affirmed that the state government would continue to advocate for Sarawak's rights under MA63, irrespective of the federal government's leadership. The increase in the interim special grant to RM1.5 billion, effective this year, was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on September 16.",
  "summary": "KUCHING: The increase in the interim special grant to Sarawak to RM1.5 billion is not a definitive solution, said Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Sarawak says RM1.5b interim grant not final, pushes for clear constitutional formula",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/sarawak-says-rm1-5b-interim-grant-not-final-pushes-for-clear",
        "published": "2026-10-16T05:35:22.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}