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Kota Kinabalu: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick (pic) disagreed with a former Sabah Chief Minister’s view that the State should not prioritise its 40 per cent special grant entitlement and instead focus on development such as schools and hospitals.

Ewon, who is also Upko president, said the view was inaccurate as the 40 per cent payment is a constitutional right of Sabah and should not be conflated with the Federal Government’s development responsibilities.

He said the entitlement was a condition of Sabah’s participation in the formation of Malaysia and stressed that without acceptance of this condition, Sabah would not have agreed to form the federation in 1963.

Responding to remarks by Tan Sri Harris Salleh, who suggested prioritising Federal upgrades to essential infrastructure over the cash claim, Ewon said development responsibilities are already clearly defined under the constitutional division of powers.

He reiterated that Upko would continue to pursue implementation of the 40 per cent payment, support public and legal efforts to advance the claim, and said the matter is expected to be debated in the State Legislative Assembly.