KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Ewon Benedick has labeled the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ statement on Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement as “contradictory.”
Ewon, who is United Progressive Kinabalu organisation (Upko) president, said while the federal government would not appeal the Kota Kinabalu High Court’s ruling on the matter, it would appeal defects in the grounds of judgment.
“An appeal is an appeal. Saying there is no appeal, but that the grounds of judgment will be appealed, is still an appeal,” he said in a statement today.
He said this was among the reasons that prompted his resignation from the federal cabinet, as he could no longer reconcile his principles with the federal government’s stance.
Ewon said the AG-C’s position in the judicial review filed by the Sabah Law Society (SLS) was made clear in the written judgment by High Court Judge Celestina Stuel Galid, which detailed the federal government’s views on the matter.
Ewon maintained that the federal government’s responsibility under the Federal List and Sabah’s 40 per cent entitlement are separate matters — the former being a policy issue, while the latter is a constitutional right unique to Sabah.
He claimed were the Court of Appeal to overturn any part of the High Court’s decision, the overall recognition of Sabah’s 40 per cent entitlement could be jeopardised.
“Although the AG-C said it respects the principle of the Special Grant, if the appeal results in the entire High Court judgment being nullified, the recognition of Sabah’s rights will also be lost,” he said.
He said only local Sabah parties truly understand the spirit and aspirations of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), and called on voters to support homegrown political movements that would prioritise Sabah’s interests.
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