PUTRAJAYA: A Joint Technical Committee will be set up by the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) under the Special Council on Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) to study Sabah’s proposal for its annual grant.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said the committee would also scrutinise the Federal Government’s counter offer to Sabah’s proposal.
Speaking after the first Federal-Sabah Malaysia Agreement 1963 JCC meeting on annual grant here Thursday, Maximus said they also discussed the terms and references on issues related to Sabah’s special grants.
During the meeting chaired by Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Local Government and Housing Minister cum Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun made Sabah’s submissions for review of the annual grant in appeal for urgent repayment of due claims to the State Government.
The Federal Government came up with a counter offer.
“However, during the two-hour meeting, we agreed for a technical committee to study, in detail, the State’s proposal and the counter-offer by the Federal Government,” Maximus said.
He added that the committee is hopeful that some conclusions can be reached on claims before the Special Council on MA63 meeting to be chaired by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob next month.
Also present in the meeting were Sabah Attorney General Datuk Nor Asiah Mohd Yusof, Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary Datuk Rusdin Musidi Riman and former Sabah AG Brenndon Soh.
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