KOTA KINABALU: Warisan Supreme Council member Azhar Matussin seeks clarification from the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, on whether the Sabah Government supports the 40 percent claim filed by the Sabah Law Society (SLS) against the Federal Government or otherwise.
According to him, the recent rejection by the state government of the SLS case regarding the 40 percent claim for Sabah to the federal government has surprised the people of Sabah.
“In the court hearing on May 16, the attorney representing the Sabah State Government, Datuk Tengku Fuad Tengku Ahmad, claimed several things in favour of the Federal Government, thus stating that the 40 percent claim issue is not Sabah’s absolute right.
“It is merely an aspiration to demand unpaid dues from previous years. However, on the following day, May 17, Hajiji Noor made a press statement clarifying that the state government has never relinquished its rights regarding the 40 percent claim for Sabah,” he said in a statement today.
Azhar, who is the State Assemblyman for Darau, said that Hajiji emphasised that there would be no compromise regarding the 40 percent claim for Sabah.
“Hajiji Noor’s statement shows a contradiction to what Tengku Fuad stated in the recent court hearing.
“The question is, does the Sabah State Government not know about Tengku Fuad’s presence in court the other day, or did the Sabah State Government change its stance after realising that Tengku Fuad’s actions have caused a negative perspective and anger among the people of Sabah?” Azhar explained.
According to him, if the Sabah State Government was aware of Tengku Fuad’s presence, why was no action taken to prevent him from acting in such a manner?
“At the same time, why did the Sabah State Attorney not appear in the Kota Kinabalu High Court on that day, especially when it involves issues related to the state’s interests and the people of Sabah?
“Is there no accountability and coordination within the Sabah State Government?” he added.