Kota Kinabalu: Warisan President Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said Sabah’s 40 per cent tax revenue entitlement and the Federal Government’s obligation to provide public infrastructure are two separate matters that should not be treated as interchangeable.
“We respect Tan Sri Harris Salleh’s opinion as that of a leader who has contributed to Sabah. But we must also understand that when it comes to the Federal List, schools, hospitals and security are Federal List matters.
“It has nothing to do with the 40 per cent,” Shafie said after chairing the Warisan Supreme Council meeting and a session with 25 elected representatives, here, Wednesday.
Shafie said this during a media conference when asked about Harris’s suggestion that Sabah would be better served by pressing the Federal Government for improvements to schools, hospitals and roads rather than pursuing the 40 per cent claim.
Shafie said Federal spending on public facilities in states such as Sabah, Perlis, Kelantan and Pahang, etc, was an existing obligation under the Federal List and pointed out that Sabah’s constitutional provision was unique.
“The 40 per cent refers to taxes collected that, under the Constitution, must be returned to Sabah. This provision exists only for Sabah.
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“It does not exist in Sarawak, it does not exist in Perlis, it does not exist in other states,” he said.
He noted that Federal delivery in Sabah under its own obligations had room for improvement, citing medical specialist services as one area of concern.
“Even at the general hospital, there is only one cardiothoracic. There is none in Keningau, none in Sandakan, none in Tawau.
“This needs to be improved from time to time, as do the conditions of existing schools,” Shafie said.
On the broader 40 per cent push, Shafie said Warisan had firmed up a united position during its Supreme Council meeting and intended to raise the matter at the coming State Legislative Assembly sitting.
“We hope our position is united enough for this demand to be fulfilled as well as possible,” he said.
He acknowledged the country’s current economic headwinds, including pressures tied to global uncertainties, but said Warisan was seeking clarity from the State Government on how it planned to honour the constitutional provision.
“We are aware of the economic problems the country faces. We understand, we are not ignorant of that. But we want to know what the State Government intends to do to ensure the 40 per cent can be delivered in line with the existing constitution,” he said.
He said the party hoped to see concrete steps taken rather than continued public discussions, framing the entitlement as a matter of nation-building.
“There is no need for forums here and there involving ministers. You are the government of the day. The question is what can you do, what should you do, to ensure we can realise the 40 per cent. We are building a nation here,” he said.
