PAPAR: Parti Warisan must explain why it only managed to get RM53.4 million in special grant for Sabah from the Federal Government during its time in power from May 2018 until Sept 2020.
The amount was intended as an advance payment started in 2020 and a temporary measure over Sabah’s 40% net revenue entitlement to be paid by the Federal Government to the State, which is a constitutional right under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and is still unresolved.
Warisan’s claim to champion Sabah’s rights under the MA63 is questionable for agreeing to accept only RM53.4 million.
Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Deputy Sec-Gen Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said by right Warisan should have demanded a review or higher amount as the special grant rate was never reviewed for 45 years from 1973 – 2018 under the then Barisan Nasional (BN)-led government.
According to Article 112(3) of the Federal Constitution, the rate of this Special Grant is to be reviewed every five years.
Unfortunately, Armizan said, the last review was in 1973, with an amount set at RM26.7 million. It was never revised for more than 45 years under BN governments that ruled both the state and the federal.
Armizan said Warisan shamelessly accepted the RM53.4 million in a formal decision made by the then Sabah Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal on Oct. 16, 2019.
He said the decision was confirmed in a letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Sabah Finance Ministry to the Federal Finance Ministry, dated Oct. 18, 2019.
“Why did the Warisan-led State Government fail to demand a fairer or higher rate when Shafie claimed to have a ‘strong influence’ over then Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad?”Armizan also demanded to know why the then Warisan-led State Government failed to push for a more reasonable rate.
“As he (Shafie) himself said, ‘I helped Tun Dr Mahathir become Prime Minister twice.’ With that kind of influence — and with Warisan holding three full ministerial and two deputy ministerial posts in the federal government — why did they ‘chicken out’ when it came to defending Sabah’s rights?” he said.
Armizan was speaking at a press conference in conjunction with the launch of the Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) Dun Limbahau election machinery in Kg Ulu Sapat, Sunday.
The Papar Member of Parliament also questioned the role of three Warisan leaders – Datuk Azis Jamman, Datuk Darell Leiking and late Datuk V.K. Liew – who served as full federal ministers and two others as deputy ministers, during the period.
“All five Warisan federal ministers and deputy ministers at that time should not have ‘chickened out’ when defending Sabah’s rights.
“Ironically, Warisan previously accused Barisan Nasional (BN) of failing to implement MA63 because Sabah received only RM26.7 million in special grants from 1973 to 2018.
“Yet Warisan itself bowed to the Federal Government’s offer of RM53.4 million as announced in the 2020 National Budget in October 2019,” he said.
On the contrary, Armizan said when GRS government was given the mandate, one of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor’s first actions was to write to the Federal Finance Ministry on Dec 7, 2020, officially withdrawing the Warisan government’s acceptance of the RM53.4 million.
“The GRS-led state government renegotiated and succeeded in increasing the Special Grant to RM125.6 million for 2022.
“When the Madani Government under the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim took office at the end of 2022, further negotiations led to the rate being raised to RM300 million in 2023, RM306 million in 2024, and RM600 million starting 2026.
“These figures represent an interim arrangement which do not prejudice Sabah’s constitutional right to the 40% revenue formula, which we will continue to pursue through good relations and cooperation with the Federal Government,” he said.
Armizan therefore questioned the credibility of Warisan’s new slogan, “Save Sabah,” suggesting that the people should consider “Saving Sabah from Warisan due to the party’s failure to defend Sabah’s interests.
He said GRS’ upcoming manifesto for the 17th Sabah State Election (PRN17) would make the struggle for Sabah’s MA63 rights, particularly the 40% revenue entitlement, one of its core agenda items.