KOTA KINABALU – Warisan is going all out to criticise its rivals over the revenue sharing formula between Sabah and Putrajaya.
Its Warisan information chief Datuk Awang Ahmad Sah rubbished claims by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan that the party agreed to the special grant increment offered by the then Pakatan Harapan administration when both were in power.
Awang said then finance minister Lim Guan Eng did not consult Sabah and Sarawak when deciding to double the special annual grant to RM53.4 million for 2020 to 2024 during the tabling of Budget 2020.
“Then Sabah and Sarawak chief ministers Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg told the federal government that it must adhere to the provisions in the federal constitution,” he said in a statement here today.
He also took Jeffrey to task for not pushing for the 40% revenue entitlement when he was a deputy federal minister between 1994 and 1995.
Jeffrey yesterday claimed that the Warisan-led Sabah administration had agreed to the increase in 2020.
Meanwhile, Warisan youth chief Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman said it is embarrassing for the minister overseeing Sabah and Sarawak affairs to ask the public to lodge a complaint on the 40% revenue entitlement.
“This is very stupid. What more does he want us to complain about? (The 40% revenue entitlement) had been a hot topic for many years. What more does he want us to do? It is embarrassing.
“His (Ongkili) constituency is one of the eight poorest districts in Malaysia. We have pupils crossing the river in a bucket. Our people have been crying for help.”
Azis said this when met at Elopura Warisan rep Calvin Chong’s meet-and-greet dinner at a restaurant in Bandar Indah here yesterday.
On Friday, Ongkili urged the Sabah government to lodge a complaint about the non-implementation of the 40% revenue entitlement so he can only facilitate a meeting over these issues.
However, Azis said Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Ongkili is within his rights to raise the issue during a cabinet meeting.
Yesterday, PBS youth chief Christopher Mandut questioned why Warisan deputy president Datuk Darell Leiking did not raise the issue in the federal cabinet when he was international trade and industry minister. – The Vibes, May 8, 2022
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