PENAMPANG: The United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) president Datuk Ewon Benedick said the rise in special interim payments for Sabah and Sarawak from RM300 million this year to RM600 million next year recognises Sabah’s claim for its 40% rights.
He appreciated the increase in payments and thanked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for this choice.
“This acknowledges Sabah’s 40% rights as outlined in the Federal Constitution.
“With this interim payment, we (the government) have recognised this constitutional right, and further talks will happen between the Sabah government and the Federal Government.
“I believe the current government is willing to have in-depth discussions on this 40% rights issue.
“During my earlier time in state government, I did not see discussions as extensive as they are now, and I want to emphasise that almost every week, topics related to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) are being discussed in the Federal Cabinet,” he stated.
Ewon made these comments after visiting former NSTP Bureau Chief Roy Goh at Kg. Dabak here today, alongside Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
Ewon, who is also the Member of Parliament for Penampang, said that other unresolved matters involve mechanisms that need to be discussed and agreed upon between the State Government and the Federal Government.
“As a leader from Sabah, I want to contribute to finalising the mechanisms that will be discussed.
“As we know, the Sabah Government only officially submitted its claim on June 18, and I believe there will be discussions at the Working Committee level or raised to the Special Council for the Implementation of MA63,” he said.
