KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan says it is willing to support the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state government if the latter agrees to propose the establishment of a Permanent Parliamentary Special Select Committee in the next state assembly sitting to address Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) issues.
Warisan treasurer-general Azhar Matussin said such a collaboration would demonstrate unity and a commitment to transparency to avoid delays in implementing Sabah’s 40% entitlement as enshrined in MA63.
He added that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s clarification on the RM16bil allocation did not differentiate clearly between development allocations from the federal to state government and the state’s constitutional 40% revenue entitlement.
Criticising the Prime Minister for taking three months to clarify his earlier statement about the RM16bil allocation to Sabah, made during the Kaamatan Festival in May, Azhar said Anwar should have issued an explanation immediately, as the initial announcement caused concern among many Sabahans.
“The RM16bil was also raised in the Dewan Rakyat by MPs from Sabah, but why did he opt to remain silent until yesterday (Sunday)?
“Does his previous silence have anything to do with the 40% entitlement that the MA63 implementation action council technical committee was supposed to settle by July 18?” he added.
On Sunday, Anwar said the RM16bil for Sabah includes RM6.6bil in development expenditure, RM7.9bil for managing federal agencies, and RM1.5bil for state expenditure, including from the constitutional special grant.
Addressing the Sabah PKR Convention on Sunday, he said Putrajaya had collected “quite a lot from Sabah,” adding that the revenue collection was RM10.2bil last year.
Azhar said there should be no attempt to “Malayanise” Sabah by deviating from the original spirit of MA63 or by treating its financial provisions like those of peninsular states.
“Federal responsibilities and constitutional entitlements must be respected,” he added.
The Darau assemblyman said in basic terms, the RM16bil includes RM6bil for development in Sabah, with the remaining RM10bil allocated to education, healthcare, infrastructure and security.
Azhar also said the GRS-led government should verify whether significant portions of the RM16bil have been allocated to the State and Concurrent Lists.
He believes that these outstanding issues affecting Sabah and Sabahans could be effectively addressed through the proposed special select committee.
