KOTA KINABALU: There was no mention made of special financial provisions such as for petroleum products for Sabah and Sarawak in Budget 2022, says Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.

       He said Sabah's constitutional rights to 40% of the net revenue derived by the Federal government in the state was still denied.

       "There were also no provisions for other payments such as 10% on oil or the 10% import duties on petroleum products other than the fixed RM120mil (from import and excise duties)," he said in a statement here on Saturday (Oct 30).

       Jeffrey said while the development funds allocation for Sabah had been increased, the increase was insufficient.

       "It could have been at least RM10bil in view of the need to stimulate the economy to match up Indonesia's aggressive spending in (Sabah's neighbouring) Kalimantan," said Jeffrey.

       Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Bung Moktar Radin also said that Budget 2022 said the RM5.2bil allocation for infrastructure development was not enough.

       Jeffrey, who is Keningau MP, acknowledged that Budget 2022 was inclusive and comprehensive, taking into account the welfare of the people, in line with the vision of the Malaysian Family.

       Jeffrey said that he was aware that the primary goal of the budget was to stimulate the economy, which had been devastated by the pandemic, as well as to stimulate business activities.

       "Overall, it is a good budget because it focuses on underdeveloped areas particularly in Sabah and Sarawak. But it could have been a lot better," he added.