(center) Loke with the new Sabah DAP candidates.
KOTA KINABALU: The federal government will decide soon on whether to appeal a High Court decision mandating the review of Sabah’s 40% net revenue claims, says DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke.
The federal Transport Minister said the Cabinet discussed the issue on Friday (Nov 7) but he could not reveal details, saying that Cabinet meeting discussions were secret.
“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is coming tomorrow (Sunday) and I am sure he will announce this then,” he said after the reveal of Sabah DAP’s seven election candidates here on Saturday (Nov 8).
Loke also said Sabah representatives in the Cabinet comprising Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick and Domestic Trade and Cost of Living minister Datuk Armizan Ali were among those present at the meeting.
The federal Attorney General has to file an appeal within a month of the court decision, which is by or before Nov 17.
Loke also said the national DAP has fully adopted Sabah DAP’s stand that negotiations must be held within the 180 days stipulated by the High Court.
Loke said the party believes that the Oct 17 court ruling on the negotiations between the federal and state governments must be fulfilled.
“As far as we are concerned, the court compels the negotiations but Cabinet still has time and must discuss further.
“As the Prime Minister said, things must be done based on the rule of law. The PM has made it clear that we must respect the ruling but it must be upheld with other laws as well,” he said.
Loke stressed that negotiations must take place as the procedures of the court must be abided by.
He added that previous leaders must also take responsibility and explain why over the past 60 years, no one had brought the matter up for review.
Loke meanwhile told reporters that Benedick attended the Cabinet meeting and dismissed talk that the latter had resigned.
Talks of resignation have been tied to Upko’s decision for him to quit the Federal Cabinet if the Federal Government appeals the Kota Kinabalu High Court ruling.
Upko is also asking for more seats under separate negotiations with Barisan Nasional and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah while DAP is focusing on ensuring their candidates’ victory before worrying about its political allies.
