Onus on Sabah CM and state cabinet to resolve 40 per cent revenue claim from federal govt, says Ewon
By Olivia Miwil - March 19, 2024 @ 1:31pm
PENAMPANG: The onus of resolving Sabah's claim to 40 per cent of the state's revenue should be on Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and the state cabinet.
United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) president Datuk Ewon Benedick said that he had conveyed his view to Hajiji regarding the proposal on getting back the entitlement as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
"As for the rest, the chief minister and the state government need to play their roles. I believe the state government is studying it. I am not in the state government cabinet and do not know what is being discussed.
"I leave it to the chief minister and the state cabinet to make it public, if they want to make it public. However, I hope the matter will be resolved," said the Penampang member of parliament who sits in the committees overseeing MA63 matters.
He added that he would also support the issue when it is raised in upcoming meetings.
Ewon was speaking to the media after the handover of Yayasan Bank Rakyat's school assistance to Penampang school representatives at SK St Paul, Penampang here.
He added that despite Sabah Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun having said that the state government had submitted an official request for the 40 per cent net revenue, Ewon said the request had to be more specific in stating the sources to be claimed from.
"The state government needs to know where that demand comes from, that needs to be made clear. For example, 40 per cent is from where? Tax sources, Inland Revenue Board, …things that the state government already knows the overall value of.
"From Upko's view, I think we should take that 40 per cent from something we know, the low hanging fruit. We know how much tax collection is made by IRB in Sabah. At least we already know the collection amount, so this facilitates the claim."
As for comments from politicians to demand 40 per cent revenue to address hardcore poverty in Sabah, which is six times the national rate, Ewon said that the situation justified the demand and for more funding to be channelled to the state.
The entrepreneur and cooperatives development minister said the poverty problem in Sabah should be seen as a national issue.
"It is well recorded in the cabinet meetings related to this matter, and it is being investigated because there are technical committee meetings on MA63 and subsequent MA63 council meetings where the state government needs to officially present this 40 per cent claim.
"While supporting this 40 per cent issue, ministries, especially my ministry, also need to play a role. I do not want to wait for that matter, I will start with what I can do in my ministry first."
Earlier, Ewon who is also Kadamaian assemblyman, announced that a poverty eradication pilot project will be held in Kota Belud, Kota Marudu and Kudat in May.
Present were Kapayan assemblyman Jannie Lasimbang, Yayasan Bank Rakyat chairman Datuk Philip Lasimbang and deputy Penampang Education officer Robert John.
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