TAMPARULI: Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau (pic) said it is inappropriate to suggest that addressing healthcare and education infrastructure issues should take precedence over Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement.
He stressed that healthcare and education are the Federal Government’s responsibilities under the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution, which places both sectors under the Federal List.
He said the 40 per cent revenue due to Sabah should instead be used to strengthen areas under the State Government’s jurisdiction, including scholarships, water supply, ports, agriculture, electricity, state roads, land administration and rural development.
Madius said long-standing funding constraints have forced Sabah to take loans from the Federal Government at a four per cent interest rate to finance projects such as water treatment plants, the upgrading of Sepanggar Port, electricity infrastructure and industrial area development.
He said Sabah carries nearly RM3 billion in loans in the electricity sector alone, while projects such as the upgrading of Sepanggar Port and land surveying efforts under the PANTAS system require billions more, and urged the public not to be misled but to support the State Government in pursuing the 40 per cent entitlement.