Kota Kinabalu: Keningau Member of Parliament Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan questioned the status of Sabah’s 40 per cent net revenue due.
The 40pc is Sabah money and not federal money or from other states. Do not take away Sabah’s revenue, which will only cause Sabah backward and make Sabah people miserable,” he said.
Jeffrey said under the Federal Constitution, 40 per cent of the net revenues derived by the Federation ought to be returned to Sabah.
“What is the use of the Constitution if it is not respected and upheld,” he said.
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“This is only based on Petronas RM30 billion, the Government RM2 billion (5 per cent oil royalty), Collection Tax RM6.5 billion and Customs RM2.5 billion which altogether amounts to RM41 billion. Its return has now become the demand and insistence of the people of Sabah.”
Jeffrey said peninsula’s failure to return the 40 per cent net revenue only fuelled separation talk in social media
“It used to be that 60 per cent wanted to separate, but according to former Chief Minister Tan Sri Harris Salleh, maybe 80 per cent of Sabahans want to separate if the referendum is held today.”
Jeffrey noted that the Sabah Law Society had filed a court action against the Government regarding the 40pc.
Also, a court case by NGO Sabah Action Body Advocating Rights (Sabar) regarding the declaration of the Continental Shelf Act 1966 which limits the border of Sabah Sarawak to three nautical miles.
“These two court cases prove the level of disappointment and frustration of Sabah people that they had to take legal action,” he said.
Jeffrey who is also Sabah Deputy Chief Minister noted that the Prime Minister has voiced his intention to implement the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), and there is no need to study here and there or negotiate again.
“Therefore, to preserve the beloved nation of Malaysia, I humbly call on the Members of the Cabinet to help us and work together to fulfil the rights of Sabah and Sarawak as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.”
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