KOTA KINABALU: Matters relating to Sabah’s 40% backdated revenue payment should be brought to court for legal clarification, says a state Opposition leader.
Kadamaian assemblyman Datuk Ewon Benedick said he was ready to bring the issue to court as he feels that the people of Sabah deserved a proper answer on the subject.
The Upko vice-president said an explanation on this matter must be made, more so after Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said the 40% revenue-sharing formula with Sabah was no longer applicable.
Tengku Zafrul was reported to have said that the revenue-sharing formula with Sabah is no longer applicable as it was deemed outside of the Federal Government’s financial capacity now, since it was in 1973 and that this would go against constitutional provisions for prudent fiscal management.
Ewon said although the state government had continuously said it would not give up fighting for Sabah’s rights including in matters pertaining to this, he would like to get a proper and official stand legislatively on it.
“Sabah Pakatan Harapan will discuss this further with our panel of lawyers,” he added.