‘Sabah’s 40% revenue rights different from RM16bil federal allocation’

KOTA KINABALU: Upko remains firm that Sabah’s 40% revenue rights are different from the Federal Government’s allocations under the national Budget.

Its president Datuk Ewon Benedick (pic) said the RM16bil federal allocation for Sabah was “very welcome” but it should be counted differently from the 40% revenue rights.

The Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister said he was pushing for a special discussion and for a review of the Sabah special grant before the Malaysia Day celebration on Sept 16.

“I have discussed with the Deputy Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof) and Sabah Chief Minister (Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor) to set a time frame to hold the special discussion. I have proposed before this year’s Malaysia Day celebration.

“This is my part towards finalising the 40% rights by trying to organise and facilitate special discussions because this implementation is a government-to-government affair,” he said here yesterday.

Meanwhile, Sabah Pakatan Harapan has expressed confidence that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will honour and deliver Sabah’s Constitutional rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

The four-party state Pakatan leaders gave this assurance in a statement amid criticisms over the Prime Minister’s recent remarks that the Federal Government had given Sabah RM16bil in allocations this year.

Following Anwar’s speech at the state PKR convention on Aug 4, state leaders from both sides of the divide insisted that the federal commitments to the state was separate from Sabah’s right to the return of 40% of all federal revenue from the state.

The state Pakatan leaders said the Prime Minister’s speech should be taken with an open mind as it clearly reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to the needs of Sabah.

“When we talk about MA63 and the rights that are enshrined in it, many seem to ignore the fact that Sabah and Sarawak entitlements involve many other areas within the framework.

“We must acknowledge that these discussions and negotiations are delicate and at the same time, involve complex legislative matters that require detailed examination and consideration.

“But what is assuring is that we have a Prime Minister who has agreed and allowed for these matters to be discussed and studied, and who is finding ways for it to be resolved,” the leaders said.

The statement was signed by Sabah Pakatan chairman Datuk Christina Liew, Benedick, Sabah PKR chairman Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, state DAP chairman Datuk Frankie Poon and state Amanah chairman Lahirul Latigu.

The state Pakatan leaders pointed out that several demands under MA63 have been resolved for the first time after 61 years since the formation of Malaysia, including the amendment to Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution, which has restored the original position of Sabah and Sarawak.

“Handing over of the power to regulate gas supply in Sabah, the administration of the judiciary in Sabah and Sarawak, provision of guidelines for the re-transfer of land reserved for the Federation in the states of Sabah and Sarawak as well as the handover of electricity regulatory powers to the Sabah government has also been resolved,” the state Pakatan leaders said.

“These are just a few things that have already been agreed upon, and there are many other areas that are still being identified and discussed.”