KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the federal government has allocated RM17 billion to Sabah this year, exceeding the RM10 billion in revenue collected from the state.
During a walkabout at the Gaya Street Sunday Market in Kota Kinabalu this morning, Anwar was approached by a member of the public who asked when Sabah would receive its 40 per cent share of federal revenue as provided under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
In response, Anwar pointed to the government’s financial commitment to Sabah, saying the allocation was higher than the revenue collected.
“Don’t listen to campaigns, listen to me. I am the PM. How much revenue do we collect from Sabah? RM10 billion. How much do we give back to Sabah? RM17 billion,” he said, in a video of the exchange that has since gone viral.
The member of the public can then be heard saying that the 40 per cent entitlement and development allocations were separate issues, but Anwar did not elaborate further.
The prime minister also urged the public not to be influenced by political rhetoric from “others” over the matter, which has resurfaced following the October 17 Kota Kinabalu High Court ruling directing both federal and state governments to finalise the payment details within 180 days.
The 40 per cent revenue entitlement is expected to feature prominently in the upcoming Sabah state election.
