KOTA KINABALU – The RM100 allocated for Sabah major road repairs under Budget 2021 is an insult and disgrace to the people of Sabah, said a Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) activist.
Zainnal Ajamain said the reality is that Putrajaya should at least base the quantum of allocation on the length of roads in the state as under Tenth Schedule Part II 6(1).
Under the State Road Grant 6(1), the grant payable to Sabah or Sarawak shall, in each of the years 1964 and 1965, be payable at the rate of $4,500 (Malaysian dollars then) a mile in respect of mileage in Sabah of 1,151 miles and in Sarawak of such amount as may be agreed between the federal and state governments.
“This shows Putrajaya itself does not honour the federal constitution. There shouldn’t be any more arguments over such matters,” he told The Vibes.
Zainnal, who served as adviser to the Sabah government in the federal-state MA63 talks during the Warisan-led state government, said the RM100 now given to the state is a step backward from what was already sealed in the constitution.
He said the years stated in the schedule, 1964 and 1965, served only as an example at the point of time when Malaysia was just formed in 1963, adding that the year in question now is 2021.
“They are now talking about 2021. 56 years have already passed and now they are only giving us RM100 for road repairs. Putrajaya should not go backwards on the matter. There should be more improvements. This is not something that was cooked up yesterday,” he said.
Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau had in Parliament yesterday proposed to cut RM1 billion of the allocation made to Peninsular Malaysia’s “other construction” and channel it to Sabah and Sarawak.
His comments came in view of only RM100 allocated for Sabah’s main roads next year while RM1.029 billion was allocated to Peninsular Malaysia’s “other constructions”.
The Vibes had earlier reported that only RM100 was allocated for major road repairs in Sabah next year. – The Vibes, December 3, 2020
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