KUALA LUMPUR: Sabah rightly deserves to receive the highest development allocations possible by virtue of its status in Malaysia as a region, not as one of the states in the country.
Geographically, the state also dwarfs most other states in peninsula Malaysia and therefore needs bigger funds for development so it could also create life-changing impact in districts which have been known as the poorest in the country.
Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) President Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey G Kitingan said huge development allocations given to Sabah under the 12th Malaysia Plan, which was boasted to be the highest compared to other states, must be understood as Sabah’s right to have.
“By right, Sabah should have never been thought as one of the states in Malaysia. It’s a region. And our districts should be treated like the states in Malaya. This is the right understanding in terms of our place in this country.
“We welcome the big development allocations from the federal government and we’ve been told that it’s the biggest compared to other states. It’s our right to receive it because as I’ve stated that Sabah is a region and it’s a big one so we need as big allocations as possible to develop ourselves,” he said.
The federal government has allocated RM4.66 billion for Sabah and RM4.47 billion for its east Malaysian neighbor, Sarawak, under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).
The allocation was boasted to be the biggest compared to other states and was to be channeled via the First Rolling Plan 2021 under the 12MP on 27 Sept.
He commended the Prime Minister however for having the foresight and concerns for the welfare of Malaysians in Sabah and Sarawak, hence the huge development allocation for both regions.
He pointed out that since eight out of ten poorest districts are in Sabah, receiving huge development allocations would help to reduce wide gaps that have existed for decades, be it economic or connectivity.
Kitingan said Sabah and Sarawak, as equal partners of Malaya in Malaysia, deserve to receive the majority of these funds due to their vast land area.
He pointed out that despite contributing billions to the federal coffers Sabah and Sarawak have always been on the receiving end of an unfair distribution of wealth in Malaysia.
“These development funds must be distributed in accordance with the size of the states or regions. Even Keningau is bigger than Perlis, Malacca and Penang combined!” he said, referring to his constituency.
Furthermore, Kitingan insisted that the issues under MA63, which Ismail Sabri said he would resolve, would include the federal government returning 40 per cent of the net revenue the federal derived from Sabah.
He said this is one of the ‘low-hanging fruits’ under the MA63 and the Federal Constitution that could be achieved right away.
“Overall, I am quite pleased with the plan, particularly the assurance from the federal government that it will continue the process of handing over regulatory power for gas and electricity under MA63.
“This process should be completed as soon as possible before the Twelfth Plan is over,” he concluded.-pr/BNN
