KOTA KINABALU – Sabah has renewed its call for the implementation of state rights and 40% revenue entitlement this Malaysia Day.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, when speaking at the state’s Malaysia Day celebration, said Sabah will not stop fighting for state’s rights in view of the true meaning of “Keluarga Malaysia”.
“I have repeatedly claimed for the 40% return of revenue collected by the federal government from Sabah (and had done so again) during the MA63 Special Council meeting on September 8.
“This (special grant) is stipulated under Article 112D of the federal constitution,” he said.
Hajiji said the Sabah government will take full advantage of its good relationship with the federal government to fight for Sabah’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), a document which had formed Malaysia on September 16, 1963.
“We will take advantage of the good relationship between the Sabah government and the federal government to fight for Sabah’s rights under the MA63 so that the state can enjoy fair development like our partners.
“We believe that issues about the state’s rights and interests can be solved through negotiations and understandings (between the state and federal government) based on the Keluarga Malaysia spirit,” he said.
Hajiji said while there is still a lot that needs to be done to narrow the development gap between Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia, the Sabah government will continue to claim Sabah’s rights.
On another note, Hajiji said the Sabah Maju Jaya direction plan has started showing results, as Sabah had ranked third in the country with the highest foreign investment value at RM9.9 billion from January to September this year, according to statistics from Malaysia Investment Development Authority.
He said the Sabah government will continue making Sabah an investor-friendly state, and reduce all frictions to ease investment processes.
“The government will maintain this momentum to ensure Sabah will continue to be an attractive investment destination,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hajiji said that Malaysia Day is particularly relevant in Sabah and Sarawak for the people in the Borneo states to live upon, based on mutual respect and harmony among people of different races, religions, and cultures.
He called on the people to appreciate Malaysia Day with a patriotic spirit so that peace and harmony in the nation will be preserved, in order to see a more developed, successful, peaceful, and prosperous Sabah.
The celebration was also attended by Sabah head of state Tun Juhar Mahiruddin and his wife Toh Puan Norlidah R. M. Jasni. – The Vibes, September 16, 2022
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