Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Government hopes the settlement of the state’s 40 per cent net revenue entitlement will be given due consideration and expedited by the Federal Government, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
Hajiji said the matter was raised during discussions with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) Implementation Action Council Meeting at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here on Friday.
Speaking at a joint press conference afterwards, the Chief Minister said he conveyed the request on behalf of the State Government in the hope that the payment issue would be resolved without delay.
As an interim measure, Anwar announced that the Federal Government had agreed to immediately raise Sabah’s allocation by RM1.5 billion starting this year.
The Prime Minister added that negotiations would proceed by taking into account the country’s financial position as provided for under the original agreement, with a paper expected to be tabled in Parliament in October before the funds are channelled in late October or early November.
