KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will get its rightful due as enshrined under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) once the state and Federal governments are ready, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The restoration of these rights has to be done in phases and the work is ongoing, he said when closing the Kaamatan festival in Penampang near here on Friday (May 31).
He urged leaders not to constantly dispute what the government is doing because he has to field questions and complaints from many parties.
“I have no problem at all fulfilling what is promised under MA63 but one thing I ask is, do not question the government.
“This is because I have to respond to attacks in Parliament as, according to some MPs, the allocations given to Sabah and Sarawak are too high.
“It may be high but I answered that this is needed because of poverty and road conditions,” Anwar said.
The current focus was to end poverty and provide better infrastructure and healthcare to the people while handling claims from not only Sabah and Sarawak but other states too.
“Even Kelantan and Terengganu are now asking for 20% so we have to see about that,” he said, adding that the Federal Government would never leave Sabah and Sarawak out.
He said since the Madani government took the reins in late 2022, it had achieved far more than previous governments in terms of fulfilling the MA63.
“Since becoming PM, I have raised the allocation in 2024 to RM16bil compared to RM12.9bil in 2022.
“The people who attack us must remember this,” Anwar said.
As for the 40% net revenue claim from Sabah, the Prime Minister said the latest allocation of RM16bil given to the state was more than the 40% constitutional entitlement.
He said sometimes, the strong statements accusing the Federal Government of not doing enough even came from those in power previously.
“When they were in charge, they did not think of these matters. When they’re no longer in power, they make so much noise asking for this and that.
“We have to put a stop to such sentiments because it will trigger similar (issues) in other states and this will not help," he said.
