Special committee set up to study Sabah’s revenue entitlement

KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has agreed to the setting up of a special committee to study Sabah’s 40% entitlement of the revenue collected by the Federal Government from the state.

Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman said that the formation of a committee to study the issue was a good step towards resolving various issues on the state’s rights.

"The setting up of the committee shows that the Federal Government is listening and is taking steps to address grievances and issues affecting the people of Sabah,’’ he said.

"We hope it will put to rest queries regarding Sabah's rights to this entitlement,’’ Musa said when asked about the issue disclosed by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman on Wednesday.

He said he had discussed the issue with Anifah sometime ago and was given the green light to conduct a series of forums to obtain feedback from the public.

"I have also discussed this issue with the Prime Minister and he has been receptive.

"Unfortunately, certain quarters have been using this and other matters to confuse the people and tarnish the image of the ruling government in order to further their vested interest,’’ he added.

On Wednesday, Anifah had disclosed that Najib had agreed to the setting up of the committee to look into the matter after he led a group of Sabahans to meet the Prime Minister.

Among those who met Najib were State Reform Party (Sabah Chapter) chairman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and Parti Kerjasama Rakyat Sabah (Pakar) secretary general Zainal Ajamain together with Sabah lawyer Ansari Abdullah and constitutional lawyer Edmond Bon.

Anifah said that the committee would study thoroughly several issues, especially on the financial rights of the oil and gas royalty, apart from the constitutional right to get back 40% of the revenue collected from Sabah.