SANDAKAN – Upko will be presenting the proposed framework for the payment mechanism of the 40% revenue entitlement sought by Sabah to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor next Tuesday.
While the proposal was initially intended to be submitted to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick said the state government should endorse the framework first after holding discussions and reaching an agreement.
“I am aware that this framework requires the state government and federal government’s approval, so I want to present this proposal to the chief minister first to be discussed in the state cabinet meeting.
“When we present this proposal to the federal government, the state government should also support it,” he said during a press conference after attending Upko’s Christmas and New Year Celebration in Telupid today.
Ewon, who is entrepreneur and cooperatives development minister, said a proper mechanism involving payment from Putrajaya to the Sabah government was important as it would simplify the current complicated issues involving the repayment method.
“The formula is there: 40%. However, a mechanism is needed because it involves overdue payments and future payments.
“It also encompasses overdue revenue in the Sabah revenue office (Sabah Inland Revenue Board), revenue not collected by the Sabah revenue office, and revenue paid directly to the revenue board in the peninsula.
“Discussion on this matter will help ease understanding of the process and its technical aspects. This, in turn, will benefit many people, including those in the state and federal governments, aiding them in implementing what has been overdue since 1974.”
“This is a positive effort, and I hope that Sabahans will give their support for this proposed framework mechanism,” he said.
The proposed framework was developed following a round-table discussion held on December 19 in Kota Kinabalu, which brought together local experts from diverse fields.
Participants included former chief minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, Sabah Inland Revenue Board representative Datuk Petrus Gimbad, former Sabah Law Society presidents Datuk Roger Chin and Datuk John Sikayun, Institute of Development Studies chief executive officer Professor Datuk Ramzah Dambul and former deputy chief minister Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing.
Ewon, who is also Penampang MP, also said the proposed framework mechanism was developed in line with Putrajaya’s decision to set a one-year period starting in July 2023 to finalise the payment mechanism.
Meanwhile, commenting on the cabinet reshuffle that occurred on December 12 last year, which saw the portfolio for Sabah and Sarawak affairs under the Prime Minister’s Department scrapped, he said it did not imply a retreat by the federal government in restoring the rights of the Borneo states.
“I don’t consider the dropping of the Sabah and Sarawak ministry as a step back. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the government has taken a significant leap forward for Sabah and Sarawak by appointing a deputy prime minister from Sarawak for the first time in the country’s history. This unprecedented move marks a positive development that has never been undertaken before.
“Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof is the number two person in the country’s administration (and) would lead the discussions (about Sabah and Sarawak’s rights).
“Plus, we have the MA63 Action Implementation Council, which has been continued. I am also a member, and there’s a technical committee chaired by the deputy prime minister that continues to discuss the issues regarding Sabah and Sarawak’s rights,” he said. – January 6, 2023