PH Sabah Welcomes RM1.5 Bln Grant, Urges Full Implementation Of 40 Pct Revenue Share

KOTA KINABALU, June 7 (Bernama) -- Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH) has welcomed the Federal Government's decision to increase the interim special grant to RM1.5 billion, while urging the full implementation of Sabah's 40 per cent revenue entitlement under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

Sabah PH chairman Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said the coalition appreciated Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's announcement on May 30 to raise the interim grant from RM600 million, describing it as the highest allocation ever provided to the state.

However, he said the increase should not detract from efforts to realise Sabah's full entitlement to 40 per cent of the federal revenue collected from the state, as provided for under MA63.

"We welcome the announcement and, based on records, it is the highest allocation in history. However, we are also carrying the aspirations of the people of Sabah as a whole that the full 40 per cent payment must be implemented," he told reporters after the Sabah PH 2025 Annual General Meeting here today.

He said that the grant was among the issues discussed at the meeting, which was also attended by the two state PH deputy chairmen, Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe, who is also the state DAP chairman, and Datuk Lahirul Latigu, who heads Sabah Parti Amanah.

Mustapha, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs), said that he would continue efforts to ensure the issue is resolved before the next election, given its far-reaching implications for Sabah.

He added that Sabah PH also hoped that the RM1.5 billion interim allocation would be channelled towards resolving the state's basic infrastructure challenges, particularly those involving water supply, electricity and roads.

-- BERNAMA