CM: On the right path to getting 40 per cent entitlement

KOTA KINABALU: The increased RM300 million in special grant from the Federal  Government is another clear indication that the State Government is on the right path  towards getting Sabah's entitlement as stipulated in Article 112D of the Federal  Constitution. 

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said Sabah welcomed the  decision of the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63) technical committee as announced by  Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof on Tuesday. 

"Rest assured that we will not rest until Sabah gets what is owed to her as enshrined in  the MA63," he said in a statement here today. 

The Chief Minister reiterated the State Government's stand that Sabah has never  relinquished rights to the 40 per cent revenue. 

"This is an interim solution and as mentioned by Fadillah, negotiations are still ongoing  with a separate committee to determine and finalise the formula for the annual special  grants for the two Bornean states within a year," he said. 

Sabah would continue to fight for the special grant entitlement according to Article 112C  and Section 2 of Part IV in the Tenth Schedule, as well as Article 112D of the federal  constitution, which provides for a formula and review of the 40 per cent net revenue  entitlement that the federation derives from the state, said Hajiji. 

After chairing the MA63 technical committee meeting yesterday, Fadillah said that  Sabah and Sarawak would receive RM300 million in special grant from the federal  government this year. 

The RM300 million grant is a RM40 million increase for Sabah following the previous  RM260 million grant Putrajaya announced for the state in January, which would be paid  as soon as possible, said Fadillah, who is also chairman of the MA63 committee. 

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