Fadillah wants Armizan back in MA63 committee


KOTA KINABALU: A minor reshuffle is needed to bring former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali back into the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) committee, says Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

The Deputy Prime Minister said Armizan, who is now Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister, was no longer in charge of Sabah and Sarawak affairs.

Following a Cabinet reshuffle last year, the responsibility has been taken over by Fadillah.

“We will discuss this during the MA63 committee, please wait because there will be some reshuffle,” he said.

Fadillah was responding to a question whether the Malaysia Agreement 1963 Implementation Action Council (MTPMA63) had discussed on the formula for the 40% tax revenue owed by Putrajaya to Sabah.

“He (Armizan) is no longer in charge of Sabah and Sarawak, so we have to reorganise the structure and then only can we have a meeting and submit a new paper,” he said.

Fadillah also said he paid a courtesy call on Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor on Friday to seek his input on the issues regarding MA63.

“That’s why we sat down and get direction from him (Hajiji).

“What I am going to do as far as the MA63 is concerned is to get both Armizan and (Penampang MP) Datuk Ewon Benedick to sit in the committee.

“Then, we will start our discussion,” he said.

Benedick, who is a member of MTPMA63 and the MTPMA63 technical committee had last month said he would submit a proposed framework to the federal and Sabah governments for the payment mechanism of the 40% tax revenue owed by Putrajaya.

The Upko president, a Pakatan Harapan component, said the proposed framework would take into account technical issues related to the availability of data related to the collection of federal revenue in Sabah since 1974.

“The framework will offer a more practical step forward to realise the payment,” said Benedick, who is also the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In Nation

Malaysia, Singapore sign MOU to combat cross-border crime
Quarry worker killed by falling rock in Manjung
Three-day series of events to mark two years of Madani Govt
Parts of Klang Valley hit by flash floods due to downpour
Trailer company faces possible licence suspension after fatal Penang incident, says Loke
Salesman arrested for lodging false report over lost MyKad
Perak drug bust: Man paid just RM100 to transport RM2mil worth of meth, say cops
Motion sensors, warning lights proposed for wildlife roadkill hotspots
Euro 5 petrol introduction will not burden customers, says Nik Nazmi
Six religious school students from T'ganu strike gold in international innovation competition

Others Also Read