TAWAU – Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for Tawau, Datuk Christina Liew, today refuted claims made by former chief minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal that the coalition did not support the move to reclaim Sabah’s 40% revenue entitlement.
Liew said the claim is baseless and untrue, and merely serves as propaganda during the ongoing election campaign.
In a statement, she said 12 PH reps in June, including herself, initiated a suit at the Kota Kinabalu High Court against the federal government for not fulfilling the revenue entitlement.
Section 2(1) of Part IV of the Tenth Schedule states that Sabah is entitled to an annual grant amounting to “two-fifths” of the net revenue derived by the Federation of Malaysia from Sabah.
“We are seeking a declaration that the state's 40% revenue share formula, as stipulated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), is still applicable and enforceable.
“Our suit against Putrajaya is not merely a publicity stunt as claimed by the former CM.
“Responsible leaders should not fabricate stories to mislead the electorate. Warisan should not blame PH for its (Warisan) inability to pursue Sabah's rights successfully.”
She was commenting on Shafie’s claim that Sabah PH leaders in the then Warisan-led state government did not support him when he tried to pressure the federal government to fulfil its financial obligations.
The 12 lawmakers involved in the suit are Liew, Peto Galim (Inanam assemblyman), Ewon Benedict (Kadamaian assemblyman), Datuk Frankie Poon (Tg Papat assemblyman), Jannie Lasimbang (Kepayan assemblywoman), Phoong Jin Zhe (Luyang assemblyman), Tan Lee Fatt (Likas assemblyman), Awang Husaini (incumbent Putatan MP), Chan Foong Hin (incumbent Kota Kinabalu MP), Vivian Wong (incumbent Sandakan MP), Noorita Sual (incumbent Tenom MP) and Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau (incumbent Tuaran MP).
In March, then finance minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz revealed that the 40% formula was no longer applicable as the federal government could not afford it.
However, Putrajaya announced an increase of its annual grant to Sabah from RM26.7 million to RM125.6 million this year. – The Vibes, November 14, 2022
