Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, the president of Parti Warisan, has criticized the federal government for using a lack of financial resources as an excuse for not giving Sabah 40% of the revenue collected from the state.
He expressed disappointment with the government's statements, saying that they should not resort to using the lack of money as an excuse and should fulfil the agreement made in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). The MA63 enshrines the 40% revenue entitlement for Sabah, and Shafie believes that the government should negotiate directly with the previous government instead of bringing the matter to court.
Shafie's comments were in response to a statement made by Sabah United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation president Datuk Seri Ewon Benedick, who said that the technical committee on the implementation of MA63 would have to wait until July next year to finalize the 40% formula and correct the different interpretation. Ewon also alluded to potential adverse effects on the development allocation and emoluments of federal civil servants in the state if the 40% demand is met.
The Court of Appeal has fixed May 16 next year to hear the attorney general's appeal against a High Court decision granting the Sabah Law Society leave to seek a judicial review in relation to the 40% revenue entitlement. Shafie believes that the government should fulfil the agreement made in the MA63 and not use a lack of financial resources as an excuse. He also believes that negotiating directly with the previous government would be a better approach than bringing the matter to court.
Ewon, on the other hand, believes that the technical committee needs more time to finalize the 40% formula and correct the different interpretations. The Court of Appeal will hear the attorney general's appeal against a High Court decision granting the Sabah Law Society leave to seek a judicial review in relation to the 40% revenue entitlement on May 16 next year.
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