KOTA KINABALU: Putatan UMNO Division Chief Jeffery Nor Mohamed has described Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (Sabah & Sarawak) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud’s remarks regarding interim payment allocations to Sabah as ‘inappropriate’.
He argues that the question of who leads the Federal Government should not arise, as this demand is clearly enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), specifically concerning the 40% payment claim and interim payment obligations.
“I believe the minister’s statement appears to be a pressuring statement rather than one that truly reflects the aspirations of Sabah’s people, who wish to see the 40% claim and interim payment continue regardless of who becomes the federal government leader,” he stated in a statement today.
Recently, Mustapha was quoted as saying that Sabahans must maintain the current Madani Government if they want the RM1.5 billion interim payment to proceed.
Jeffery hopes the interim payment will not become a political bargaining chip ahead of the upcoming general election.
He made this point because it is already the responsibility of the Federal Government, whoever leads it, to continue and resolve the 40% claim through harmonious and amicable means
