SANDAKAN: Perikatan chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin says that the government must adhere to the Constitution and respect Sabah’s entitlement to 40% of the federal revenue collected from the state.
He described the recent High Court ruling on the matter as historic and said it is time for the federal and state governments to find a mutually agreeable solution.
“I’m all for it, especially when it comes to the rights of Sabahans. There could be some problems which the Federal Government has to resolve, but there should be some negotiation with the state government to find a fair and just solution,” said the former prime minister.
He said this when met after the launching of Perikatan election machinery for the Sabah election at Hakka Hall, here on Saturday (Nov 8).
Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (centre, in cap) joins party leaders and supporters in a show of unity during the launch of Perikatan’s election machinery in Sandakan.
Muhyiddin, who is also the Bersatu president, said that if Perikatan was given the mandate to form the Sabah government, it would ensure a clean, transparent, and fair administration.
“We will make sure that the wealth of Sabah is distributed fairly to every Sabahan. We are against corruption, and we will make sure that the next Sabah administration under Perikatan Nasional will be a clean government,” he said.
The number of seats to be contested and the candidates would be announced in Kota Kinabalu on Nov 11.
Meanwhile, Muhyiddin said the coalition has almost completed discussions with like-minded parties to strengthen its chances in the upcoming state election.
However, he ruled out the possibility of working with the former Perikatan component party, the SAPP, led by Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, which left the coalition in December last year before also quitting GSR to contest the state election independently.
“We had an experience that wasn’t very good. But we are ready now; what we already have is sufficient,” he said.
Muhyiddin said the coalition’s visits and observations on the ground showed encouraging responses, even in areas previously thought to have little support. He added that the positive momentum gave Perikatan confidence of winning several of the seats it plans to contest.
He said the coalition’s manifesto, to be unveiled soon, would outline Perikatan’s commitments for Sabah’s development and governance.
