KOTA KINABALU - Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan has asked the federal government to channel more funding towards the development of Sabah, as the nation’s hardest-hit Covid-19 state now grapples with worsening flood issues.
Jeffrey, who is also the Sabah deputy chief minister said the state would have the financial muscle to stave off pressing matters if it was given what it was due as enshrined in the federal constitution.
“Give us 40% of Sabah's net revenue, as obligated under Schedule 10, Article 112 of the Federal Constitution,” he said.
“This extra money will help us to deal with this (flood). Otherwise, we will forever be asking for money to solve our problems.”
Earlier, Jeffrey who is also the state’s Agriculture and Food Industry Minister visited some of the places affected by flood following a heavy downpour on Monday.
He received a briefing on site from the Department of Drainage and Irrigation director Jeffrey Ng.
Jeffrey said he is satisfied that works are being done to alleviate the problem with a comprehensive plan worth RM3 billion already in place.
“We need to do this in one go, not in bits and pieces because if you do so, you will be chasing the problem rather than confronting it,” he said.
Among the areas he visited was the Tenghilan town, some 55km from Kota Kinabalu, which had been hit hard by the Monday’s flooding.
Shop owners were seen still struggling to clean their shops after water rose almost three feet in the sub-district.
This is the second time the town was flooded this month following torrential rain.
“The villagers were really affected by this. They lost their businesses; some of their electrical appliances were damaged,” he added.
“They didn’t tell me how much losses they have incurred. But I pity them because they cannot run their businesses properly as they are still busy cleaning up.” – The Vibes, October 20, 2020
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