KOTA BELUD: Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri Zone Coordinator for Kota Belud has rejected the idea that 40% state entitlement no longer applies because Sabah is alleged to have received a federal allocation of RM16 billion in 2023.
Dr. Kanul Gindol, who recently joined Anak Negeri and has been appointed as Kota Belud zone coordinator, said any attempt to replace the 40% right with the RM16 billion federal allocation intended for federal spending in Sabah will be strongly opposed by all Sabahans.
He said that the Prime Minister and President of PKR, Datuk Seri Panglima Anwar Ibrahim, did not seem to understand the facts when he said “the Central Government has given Sabah RM16 billion in 2023” and seemed to imply that the payment of RM16 billion exceeded the 40% requested by Sabah.
Kanul said the 40% entitlement is stated under Sections 1 & 2, Part IV, Tenth Schedule, as well as Article 112C and Article 112D of the Federal Constitution and must be paid to the Sabah State Consolidated Fund.”
Therefore, he said, the RM16 billion federal allocation that Anwar mentioned had nothing to do with the 40% state special grant.
Kanul also questioned Anwar’s sincerity for insinuating that “Sabah people are not grateful to him.”
Anwar was quoted as saying, “The people of Sabah should be grateful or at least accept the facts and ask nicely.”
Kanul said Anak Negeri did not dispute the facts about the RM16 billion because this was the federal allocation intended to fulfil the federal obligations in Sabah.
“The Federal Government can give as much as they want to fulfil their constitutional obligations to Sabah,” said Kanul, who received a PhD (political science) from Wilmington Metropolitan University.
However, Kanul said federal leaders must also accept the fact that there is a clear distinction between state and federal responsibilities as defined by the Federal Constitution.
He said Sabah does not need to beg Putrajaya to get the 40% entitlement because it is a state constitutional right that needs to be respected and fulfilled by the Federal Government.
He said the 40% formula is a guideline and the basis for calculating 40% of the state’s special grant eligibility.
“Federal-state negotiations should be based on the 40% formula under Article 112C and also Article 112D, which states the amount to be paid to the state is subject to the needs of the state and the ability of the federal government to pay.”
He said the grant of RM300 million negotiated by the state and federal governments was an arbitrary decision and had no constitutional basis.
“The people of Sabah cannot accept a figure that is plucked out of thin air and forced into people’s throats.”
