Hajiji: New State Bills for gas supply, state energy commission will help drum up revenue for Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: The state legislative assembly passed two bills - State Bills for gas supply, and the Energy Commission of Sabah - on Tuesday (Jan 10).

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor tabled the bill before 43 state assemblymen in the special sitting held.

He said the passing of these bills would help Sabah generate more revenue and was an effort to reclaim back rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

During the debate session, Kadamaian assemblyman Datuk Ewon Benedick said with these bills, he hoped that there would be additional ministerial posts to better manage state affairs.

He also suggested a southern link to generate power instead of constructing a Kimanis pipeline.

Sindumin’s Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob said now was no longer the time to negotiate, but rather the state should already be in the phase of implementing these rights.

Other leaders including Liawan’s Datuk Anwar Ayuub, nominated assemblyman Datuk Dr Yong Teck Lee and Kuamut’s Datuk Masiung Banah also presented their debate speeches.

None of the Umno assemblymen except for the five dissidents, Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Malaysia as well as Parti Warisan representatives attended the seating.

Umno and Warisan had issued a statement supporting the two bills.

Umno said they were unable to attend the sitting as they had to fly to Kuala Lumpur for the Umno general assembly while Warisan said the bill could be passed with only a simple majority.

Earlier, it was observed that the seating arrangements in the assembly hall had been altered, with Umno and Warisan leaders including Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal now allocated at the opposition side.

The seven Pakatan Harapan assemblymen and other state government-friendly representatives were now seated at the backbenchers’ seat area.

After the special sitting, Hajiji launched the Energy Commission of Sabah webpage - www.ecos.gov.my.

This website allows applications of permits, licenses and any related matters to be made online, while information on energy and power were also available here.