KOTA KINABALU: Upko continues to urge the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) to drop the appeal on the grounds of the judgment pertaining to a Court Order mandating the government to review Sabah’s 40% revenue entitlement.
Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick said if the federal government was sincere in returning what was owed to Sabah, and genuinely wanted to solve this matter, they would drop the appeal on the Court order.
The Deputy Chief Minister III said if the negotiations or discussions on the payment for the lost years need to take time, the payments for the coming years should be able to be fixed and implemented.
“This should be the first agenda of reform that would act as the variable to bring development and progress for Sabah,” he said when opening Upko’s tri-annual convention here, Sunday (Jan 18).
He added that the matter will be brought up again at Monday’s Parliamentary sitting.
He said there was still so much to be done for the betterment of Sabah, and these rights and due payments could help achieve what Sabah has been denied for so long.
Ewon acknowledged that changes have been made in Sabah since 1963, but more could have been done for the people and the state.
He said in Upko, their stance to fight for state rights, push for reform agenda would continue to be their objective and drive.
Earlier, he mentioned that as a local-based party fighting for genuine Sabahans, there was still much work to be done.
He urged party members, leaders and supporters to serve as ambassadors for the party by doing their best in bringing development for the people.
