KOTA KINABALU: Matters related to Sabah’s 40% backdated revenue payments should be brought to court for legal clarification, says an Opposition leader in the state.

       Upko vice-president Datuk Ewon Benedick said he was prepared to initiate court proceedings because he believed the people of Sabah were owed an answer.

       The Kadamaian assemblyman said a clear explanation must be given, more so after Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz's statement that the 40% revenue sharing formula with Sabah was no longer applicable.

       Tengku Zafrul had said that the 40% revenue sharing was not applicable following an agreement between Sabah and the Federal Government in 1969, which states, among other things, that another grant would be made instead of the 40% share.

       Ewon said that, although successive state governments had said over the years that they would continue fighting for Sabah's rights on matters such as revenue payments, a proper and official stand was needed.

       He was of the opinion that the 40% revenue share and special grants under the 1969 pact were separate matters.

       “However, Pakatan Harapan in Sabah will discuss this further with our panel of lawyers,” he said after a recent meeting with Upko division, Women and Youth leaders in Kota Belud district.