Sabah announces RM7.3mil allocation for all 73 ADUNs

 By Olivia Miwil - September 23, 2021 @ 7:04pm

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the allocation was made based on a joint commitment and the spirit of the Malaysian Family. -NSTP/MOHD ADAM ARININ

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government has announced an allocation of RM7.3 million for its 73 assemblymen to handle the Covid-19 pandemic.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the allocation was made based on a joint commitment and the spirit of the Malaysian Family.

"I am hoping this allocation could help all elected representatives and local leaders to help the people in need.

"This is additional to the existing assistance which is or had been channeled by the state and federal governments.

"We pray that the difficult situation that we are facing now will end soon so it will be easier for us to rectify our affected lives," he said during his winding-up speech at the 16th State Assembly Sitting.

Hajiji, who is also state Finance Minister, said the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah led-government urged assemblymen including from the opposition bloc to forward their suggestions to the state government.

As for a suggestion made by Datuk Darell Leiking (Warisan-Moyog) for Sabah to make a special motion to reject the Territorial Sea Act 2012, Hajiji agreed to do so as part of resolving issues related to Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

The Sulaman assemblyman also assured that the state government would continue to defend the rights of Sabahans as enshrined in MA63 and the Federal Constitution.

"The state government has its own stance on Sabah Territory Right as listed under the North Borneo (Alteration of Boundaries) Order in Council, 1954 that covers the continental shelf.

"Therefore, anything related to the rights and privileges of the state will be brought to the special MA63 council meeting."

On the petroleum and gas industry, he said a technical committee chaired by State Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun had been set up to prepare recommendations for the Federal Government and Petronas.

As for the Commercial Settlement Agreement (CSA) between Sabah and Petronas, the negotiation would be led and handled by the Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz and Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ronald Kiandee at the federal level.

The CSA will give more power for Sabah to make decisions on developing oil and gas, more revenues and participation in government-linked companies for upstream and downstream activities.

Meanwhile, the Sabah government would retain 247-hectares of Wario forest reserve to be part of a Totally Protected Area for the conservation of the environment, water, weather and wellbeing of the local community.

On suggestion to do a thorough study about the development at highland or hilly areas, Hajiji said such research should be done by including a geotechnical report and environmental impact assessment which were the main criteria for approval.