KOTA KINABALU – Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor said the state government will make full use of its good relationship with the federal government in ensuring that all of Sabah’s demands are met and implemented.
Hajiji said he believes the issue of state rights and interests surrounding the relationship between the Sabah and federal governments over the years would be able to be addressed through consultation and consensus in the spirit of Keluarga Malaysia.
“In the Special Council meeting of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) chaired by the prime minister (Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob) on September 8, I reiterated that Sabah will relentlessly demand a 40% return from Sabah’s own net revenue collected by the federal government as stipulated in Article 112D of the federal constitution,” he said when speaking at the state-level Malaysia Day 2022 celebration here last night.
The Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sabah Tun Juhar Mahiruddin and his wife, Toh Puan Hajah Norlidah R. M. Jasni were the guests of honour.
Also present were deputy chief ministers Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who is also chairman of the executive committee for the celebration and Datuk Joachim Gunsalam; State Speaker Datuk Kadzim M. Yahya and state secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong.
Over 5,000 Sabahans of various backgrounds attended the celebration which took place at Padang Merdeka here with various interesting events held, including a screening of a montage, and a special performance; Malaysian Families Strong Together by the Sabah Cultural Board.
Hajiji said Sabah has come a long way since the historic declaration of Malaysia on September 16, 1963, although there is still much room for improvement in the context of development under the spirit of MA63.
“Let us all defend the peace and unity that we have achieved for the future generations,” he said. – Bernama, September 17, 2022
