KUALA LUMPUR: Negotiations on Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement will commence soon at the technical level and can proceed even during the 17th state election, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said the negotiation process would not be affected despite the state administration currently being managed by a caretaker government following the dissolution of the Sabah legislative assembly on Oct 6 to pave the way for the state election.
The Finance Minister said the Treasury secretary-general has sent a letter to the office of the Sabah state secretary to initiate the negotiation process.
“It is true that the current administration is a caretaker government, but we do not want to be perceived as delaying the matter, and the process (of initiating negotiations) has already begun.
“The Treasury secretary-general has written to the Sabah state secretary stating that technical discussions may start, including on matters highlighted in the court judgment,” he said when replying to a question from Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah (BN-Paya Besar) in the Dewan Rakyat today.
The Prime Minister stressed that good relations between the state and federal governments must always be maintained to ensure that all issues, including revenue claims, are resolved in a rational and prudent manner.
“Our responsibility as a nation is to safeguard good relations between the state and federal governments. If there are reasonable concerns, we must listen and seek solutions,” he said.
He also urged all parties to uphold the spirit of unity and cohesion and to avoid inflaming narrow racial sentiments over issues that could divide society.
“I hope this spirit of unity and cohesion is preserved, because if provocative or narrow racial issues are stirred up, it will be harmful. The only ones who benefit are those at the top, while the people struggle without water and electricity,” he added.
