TAMPARULI: Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau has cautioned against proposals suggesting Sabah should prioritise resolving healthcare and education issues over pursuit of 40 per cent revenue entitlement.
He said such views are misguided as both sectors fall under the responsibility of the Federal Government as stipulated in the Federal Constitution.
He noted that healthcare and education are placed under the Federal List, covering matters such as dilapidated schools, ageing clinics and hospitals, as well as the development of public education institutions in Sabah.
Madius said the 40 per cent revenue entitlement should instead be used to strengthen sectors under the State Government’s jurisdiction.
These include scholarships, water supply, ports, agriculture, electricity, rural roads, land administration, local authorities and environmental management.
He said long-standing funding constraints have forced Sabah to borrow from the Federal Government at a rate of four per cent to finance key infrastructure projects.
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These include water treatment plants, the upgrading of Sepanggar Port, electricity infrastructure and roads in industrial areas such as Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP), POIC Sabah and Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park (Sogip).
“In the electricity sector alone, Sabah carries loans of nearly RM3 billion, while the upgrading of Sepanggar Port exceeds RM2 billion, alongside billions spent on water treatment facilities,” he said.
Madius said using the 40 per cent entitlement to fund Federal responsibilities would only confuse the public on the purpose of the claim.
He urged Sabahans to support the State Government in seeking the immediate implementation of the entitlement, as ordered by the court.
