SANDAKAN: The Sabah Government should make strong efforts to resolve the issue of claiming 40 percent of the state’s revenue or special grants under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
In making the call, Sabah UMNO Information Chief Datuk Suhaimi Nasir stressed that it was time to take drastic steps to solve the problem Sabah has been fighting for 58 years.
Under the unity government headed by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, this issue needs to be resolved given the fact that the Prime Minister (Anwar) is sensitive to the demands of Sabah and Sarawak.
“Not to mention Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof chairing the MA63 Technical Committee,” he said in commenting on Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffry Kitingan’s statement that a resolution to the long-standing demand is expected to be reached within a year.
Suhaimi, who is also a Libaran MP, said everyone is aware that the demand for the 40 percent issue under MA63 is close to the hearts of the people of Sabah and should not be taken lightly.
Therefore, he said, it is the State Government`s duty to take this claim issue seriously by taking a more effective approach for it to be resolved in a good way.
He said he and other Sabah lawmakers continue to raise the issue of the request in parliament.
Suhaimi said returning 40% of net income to Sabah is essential for the state’s development, especially in the areas of water, power, roads, education and health.
