RM300 mil grant indicates Sabah on right path to getting 40 per cent entitlement, says Hajiji
19 Jul 2023 10:56pm
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor - FILE PIX
The Chief Minister said that Sabah welcomed the decision of the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63) Technical Committee as announced by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, yesterday.
"This is an interim solution and as mentioned by Fadillah, negotiations are still ongoing with a separate committee to determine and finalise the formula for the annual special grants for Sabah and Sarawak within a year,” he said in a statement here today.
Hajiji reiterated the Sabah government’s stand that it has never relinquished rights to the 40 per cent revenue returned to the state and it will continue to fight for the special grant entitlement according to the Federal Constitution.
"The Article 112D (of the Federal Constitution) provides for the formula and review of the 40 per cent net revenue entitlement that the federation derives from the state,” he said.
After chairing the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) Technical Committee meeting yesterday, Fadillah said that Sabah and Sarawak would each receive RM300 million in special grants from the federal government this year.
The RM300 million grant is a RM40 million increase for Sabah following the previous RM260 million grant Putrajaya announced for the state in January, which would be paid as soon as possible, said Fadillah, who is also chairman of the MA63 Committee.
Meanwhile, Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) president Datuk Peter Anthony hopes that the interim allocation of RM300 million will be used efficiently to overcome the problems of infrastructure and basic facilities in the state.
He said the time has come for the government to aggressively resolve the problems in the state, including damaged roads, water and electricity supply which have been haunting the Sabahans and require a comprehensive solution to be planned immediately.
Peter said the granting of an interim allocation of RM300 million proved the sincerity of the Unity Government led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in safeguarding the interests of Sabah and Sarawak, and that he was confident that the Unity Government led by Anwar would be able to resolve Sabah's demands in MA63.
He said the allocation was also believed to lead to the settlement of the state's rights regarding the demand for 40 per cent of the revenue collected by the federal government in the state.
"There are several initiatives introduced by the Prime Minister which have been good for Sabah and Sarawak. With the RM300 million announced as an interim solution, I am confident that our efforts to get 40 per cent of the revenue collected by the federal government are now on the right track,” he said.
Sabah Umno Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said the allocation was the right step and would have positive implications for the economic and social development of the Sabahans.
"This mainly will solve the critical issues of basic infrastructure development, electricity and clean water supply, roads, as well as other developments that are lagging behind compared with other states," he said, adding that Sabah UMNO welcomed the allocation.
He hopes that the state government or government departments and agencies which are given the authority to coordinate the allocation, will do it efficiently, quickly and accurately to reduce bureaucracy because it will only hinder efforts to develop Sabah. -Bernama
