Sabah welcomes additional RM300mil special grant from Federal Govt

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government welcomes the RM300mil increase in the interim special grant from the Federal Government for next year.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said this in thanking the good news from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim which was announced during the Malaysia Agreement 1963 Implementation Action Council (MTPMA63) meeting held here on Thursday (Sept 12).

The Federal Government has already paid Sabah an interim special grant of RM300mil this year.

“Sabah welcomes the RM600mil interim special grant, pending the resolution of the 40% revenue entitlement.

"This demonstrates recognition of Sabah’s development needs and the Federal Government’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations to the state," he said in a statement.

The meeting was chaired by Anwar and attended by Deputy Prime Minister II Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof who heads the MA63 technical committee and Sarawak Premier, Tan Sri Johari Tun Openg.

The Chief Minister also expressed his appreciation for the progress made on MA63-related issues, including the transfer of regulatory authority over electricity and renewable energy to Sabah earlier this year, as well as the devolution of power.

"I hope that all unresolved issues will continue to be addressed and implemented for the benefit of both parties," he said.

Fadillah told reporters during a press conference after the meeting that the Madani government remained committed to ensure the demands under the Malaysia Agreement (MA63) were resolved swiftly for the well-being of all Malaysians.

To date, 11 demands under the MA63 negotiation platform have been successfully resolved, of which eight of them were settled under Anwar’s administration.

He said the MTPMA63 meeting was crucial as it allowed the government to plan pragmatic follow-up actions regarding unresolved MA63 claims.

“In line with this commitment, we have decided to enhance the structure of the negotiation platform between the three levels of government by strengthening it through the appointment of new members to the MTPMA63 platform,” he said,

The next MTPMA63 meeting is scheduled to take place in three months.