SABAH GOVT FIRM ON 20PC PAYOUT
Chief minister says state government had discussions with Dr Mahathir
SABAH is not backing down from its firm commitment to demand a 20 per cent oil royalty from the federal government despite Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad saying it is “not really workable”.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal yesterday said the state government had discussions with Dr Mahathir on the matter.
“We have indicated that something must be realised by this year.
“So we’ll wait for that,” he said after the launch of The Crown Service Suites and Hotel sales gallery and show unit here.
Shafie was commenting on Dr Mahathir’s statement on Friday in which the latter said that the federal government would have to review the figure mentioned in its election manifesto promise, in relation to the 20 per cent oil royalty, which would be given to Sabah and Sarawak.
Dr Mahathir said this during a dialogue with fund managers at the JP Morgan headquarters in New York.
He had said although the oil royalty payout was promised in the Pakatan Harapan election manifesto, giving 20 per cent to the two states would undermine Petronas’ strength as an international oil company.
Shafie said the state government encouraged local and foreign investors to come to Sabah to work together in building the state and the nation.
“There must be balanced development in this part of the world.
“I don’t want to see all developments being done in Kota Kinabalu, with its high-rise buildings. It must be spread throughout Sabah.
“The prime minister did mention that prosperity must be shared.
“I told him, ‘Tun, it’s not only prosperity that must be shared, but responsibility must also be shared’.”
Shafie said property development such as the RM600 million The Crown Service Suites and Hotel project would not only cater to the needs of the increasing number of tourists in the state, but also provide job and business opportunities for locals.
Located in one of the most prime sites in Kota Kinabalu, The Crown, which is developed by peninsula-based Ho Hup Group, would have four towers of 14storey service suites, a 14-storey five-star hotel and two levels of commercial units.
Ho Hup Group chief executive officer Datuk Derek Wong Kit Leong said The Crown Kota Kinabalu was the group’s first development in Sabah.
“In recent years, we witnessed for ourselves the tremendous growth of this beautiful state. We will continue to reinvest in the state and it will always be related to property development and tourism,” Wong said, adding that The Crown was expected to be completed by the end of 2021.