Deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof said the council meeting in Kuching will be chaired by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and will involve Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg and Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor.

He said the meeting will also mark Anwar’s first official visit to Sarawak as the prime minister.

In a statement today, Fadillah said the MA63 technical committee chaired by him would oversee and continue discussions with all agencies as well as finalise matters that have not been decided, to be brought to the council meeting.

Anwar announced several matters involving MA63 yesterday, including the review of the special grant for the two states under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution.

He said it would be reviewed every five years so that a more “reasonable” sum could be allocated.

Anwar also said the government has decided to allow Sabah and Sarawak to decide on the implementation of any infrastructure projects under RM50 million in their respective states.

He said although Sabah and Sarawak have their own public works departments, many decisions had to be finalised in Putrajaya, resulting in delays in the implementation of a few projects in the Borneo states.

Fadillah also said the government has given its commitment to proceed with the Pan Borneo Highway project in Sarawak and Sabah to improve the federal road infrastructure in the two states in stages.

According to him, the Sarawak Pan Borneo project is 91% complete, while the Sabah project is 73% complete.