PENAMPANG: United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) President Datuk Ewon Benedick said the increase in interim special payments for Sabah and Sarawak from RM300 million this year to RM600 million starting next year, is an acknowledgment of Sabah’s 40 per cent entitlement rights.
Welcoming the interim increase, Ewon, who is also Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, thanked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the decision.
“With this interim payment implementation, the government has acknowledged the right within the constitution, and what follows will be continued discussions between the Sabah and Federal Governments. I believe the current government is providing a broad platform for discussions on this issue.
“I was part of the previous government, and I did not see such broad discussions taking place like they are now (under the current government).
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Ewon, who is also Penampang MP, said other unresolved matters involve mechanisms that need to be discussed and agreed upon between the State and Federal Governments.
“As a leader from Sabah, I want to contribute towards finalising the mechanisms that will be discussed.
“As we know, the State Government only formally submitted its claim on June 18. I believe that over time, there will be discussions, either at the working committee level or elevated to the MA63 Special Implementation Action Council.
“For any matters that cannot be finalised by the MA63 Implementation Action Council, they will be discussed by the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim), Sarawak Premier (Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg), and Sabah Chief Minister (Datuk Hajiji Haji Noor), who are the three top leaders involved.
“These discussions are very encouraging and represent positive progress in the pursuit of Sabah’s 40pc entitlement,” he said.
On whether the unresolved matters have been given a timeframe, Ewon said there is no specific timeframe for issues that have not yet reached agreement, allowing for more comprehensive discussions.
Sabah’s Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew also welcomed the increase.
Liew, like Sabah’s Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor, welcomed the grant but emphasised that the state government would continue to fight for the 40 per cent net revenue rights granted under the Federal Constitution.
“The increase is very welcome. However, it is still pending on reading an agreement on the 40 per cent. I don’t think we can solve all the problems we have accumulated in 60 years with the grant but it is a good start.
“The RM600 million should be good, but we will continue to appeal,” she said.
Liew declined to comment on the Federal government’s decision to continue appealing the Sabah Law Society’s legal case over the special grant, stating that this matter should be addressed by the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister.
“I’m just a small player; everything will be decided by the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister.”
She added that there is a functioning system between the Federal and state governments and expressed confidence that the two would discuss the issue further and reach a solution.
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