Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Pakatan Harapan Coordinator Datuk Mustapha Sakmud dismissed former Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim’s claim that the Federal Government would go bankrupt if it proceeded with the 40 per cent revenue allocation to Sabah.
“That is his view, with all due respect. Comments like these only create division when we are working to unite all Malaysians,” the Sabah PKR Chairman said at a media conference in response to Zaid’s remarks.
“It is important that the Federal Government has committed against appealing the 40 per cent ruling and has given the assurance of implementing it. This will be done in stages through the process of negotiation between the Federal and State governments,” said Mustapha.
“Thus, I do not think the issue of our nation going bankrupt arises.
“The 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63) negotiations have been ongoing for years, the only difference between the previous government and the current Madani Government is that we are committed and serious in implementing the MA63. As we know, nine points in the MA63 have been implemented as negotiations continue.
“For us, the important thing is how the Federal and the State governments work together. We, in Pakatan Harapan, will implement this in accordance with the principles that we have set in our commitment to build a new Sabah,” Mustapha said.
For the record, Zaid’s views raised eyebrows in Sabah and Sarawak, with critics viewing them as not only disrespectful to the foundational agreement that created Malaysia but also reflecting a Malaya-centric and colonial mindset.
Zaid, in the podcast dated Nov 12, suggested that the Federal Government should appeal Sabah’s claim to its 40 per cent revenue entitlement, calling the MA63 agreement unfair and saying that honouring it would cause Malaya to go bankrupt.
He also implied, perhaps jokingly, that Sarawak and Sabah could pursue independence if they were unhappy with the arrangement.
Many pointed out that Zaid’s views showed disregard for the decades of wealth and resources contributed by Sabah and Sarawak to Malaysia’s development, with the states remaining underdeveloped despite their huge natural resource contributions.
The public concern was amplified by the fact that the comments came from a former law minister who should understand the constitutional and legal significance of MA63, the internationally recognised agreement that established Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners in the Malaysian federation under clearly negotiated conditions when it was formed in 1963.
