PAPAR: Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) Deputy President, Datuk Wetrom Bahanda said one of the most practical steps Federal could take on the 40pc issues is to make payments to Sabah based on the State’s recent revenue collections.
“For example, the Federal Government can make payment to Sabah this year for the 2024 revenue collection, or payment for 2024 based on the 2023 revenue,” he said.
“The question all this while has been how to pay Sabah’s 40 per cent share of net revenue from 1974 to 2021, which amounts to trillions of ringgit, a huge burden for the Federal Government.
“So that can be discussed later, because we have to be realistic. But what’s needed now is an immediate step, payment can start this year based on Sabah’s 2024 revenue collection.
“Or payment for 2024 can be made based on last year’s collection. There’s no excuse for saying the Federal Government lacks funds when the revenue has already been collected.
“Therefore, this is the formula that should be adopted. As for the arrears spanning over the past 50 years, that can be discussed later, what matters now is to first settle the payments for the most recent years,” he said when met at the KDM Limbahau Assembly constituency gathering here.
Wetrom, who is also Kota Marudu MP, said the matter was among KDM’s key manifesto points in upholding the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) for the coming State Election (17th GE).
At the same time, he said this issue would also be his first priority if he were given the mandate to lead as Chief Minister should KDM succeed in forming the next State Government after the 17th GE.
“Insya Allah (God willing), securing payment of Sabah’s 40 per cent net revenue entitlement for recent years will be my first action if I am entrusted to become Chief Minister.
“There may only be 90 days, but I will ensure a concrete agreement is reached between the State and Federal Governments on this matter, in line with the recent High Court ruling,” he said.
In another development, Wetrom said KDM has finalised 37 State seats it plans to contest in the 17th GE.
He said these include Limbahau, held by former KDM Deputy President Datuk Juil Nuatim who now supports Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), and Kundasang, held by PBS Acting President Datuk Joachim Gunsalam.
Wetrom said KDM was confident that its young and local candidates fielded in both GRS strongholds could pose a serious challenge and potentially capture the seats in the upcoming polls.
“We have finalised 37 seats so far, including Limbahau and Kundasang, and will announce several more that are still under discussion,” he said.
