KOTA KINABALU: The 40% revenue return from the Federal Government is a constitutional provision that needs no further negotiations, says Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal (pic).
The Parti Warisan president said there are enough discussions on the matter, and that now, it is for the Federal Government to uphold the Constitution and facilitate the 40% return of federal revenue to the state.
“It is provided for under the Constitution; there is no need to further negotiate.
“If they cannot meet the payments, then tell us when they will pay and how to pay,” he said after attending the Warisan Pesta Kaamatan celebrations at Buhavan Square in Donggongon near here yesterday.
Shafie was responding to a question on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s statement that the Federal Government budget of RM16bil for Sabah is more than the 40% revenue return that the state was seeking.
Shafie said the federal budget list cannot include the 40% revenue under the Constitution.
He said the RM16bil was the Federal Government’s commitment to security, health and education among others listed in the federal list, and not under the state’s responsibility.
“The budget for Sabah is under the federal list and should be differentiated from the 40% revenue to be returned to the state,” Shafie said, adding that the provision is under Article 112C and 112D of the Federal Constitution.
He said Sabah’s founding fathers had sought for inclusion for the revenue return clause under the Constitution in the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
Earlier in his speech at the gathering, he said the money was needed for Sabah, which is lagging behind in terms of basic necessities like water, electricity and roads.
