DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook has hit out at Upko president Ewon Benedick, saying he was no hero for quitting as federal minister over Sabah’s 40% revenue claim and that he was “only playing to the gallery”.
Loke said the reality was that the federal government had already started work on the matter and even fixed a special Cabinet meeting on Nov 11 to discuss the issue.
It was at this meeting that the Cabinet agreed not to appeal the High Court ruling on Sabah’s entitlement to 40% of revenue derived from the state.
“Ewon kept harping on this issue, trying to project himself as a hero. But the truth is he was not present at this special Cabinet meeting.
“He tendered his resignation (on Nov 10), but it only takes effect after December. He is currently on leave. Technically, he is still a Cabinet member and he knew the meeting was taking place.
“If you believe the decision was wrong, you should fight it in the Cabinet. Challenge the attorney-general, challenge the prime minister, then resign. Then I will call you a hero.
“But right now, you’re just playing to the gallery,” he said in a statement.
Loke maintained that Putrajaya‘s appeal in the ongoing court case was only on a technical point and not the merits of Sabah’s 40% claim to the state’s revenue.
“If the government does not appeal, it would look like we have misused our powers. These are legal issues that must be cleared up,” he said, reiterating that Putrajaya recognised Sabah’s right to 40% of revenue collected from the state.
Loke urged voters not to be swayed by confrontational politics ahead of the Nov 29 polls, saying Sabah’s growth needed close federal-state cooperation, not daily quarrels.
“If a state government that is totally against the federal government comes to power, the next five years will be full of politicking, fights and loud emotional talk.
“That is not going to solve Sabah’s long-term issues,” he said.
Loke, the federal transport minister, added that the unity government had never seen Sabah as an adversary. “If Sabah grows, Malaysia grows,” he said.
“There needs to be a balance. Having Pakatan Harapan assemblymen in Sabah will help create a win-win situation – strong federal support and a stable state government,” he said.
