90% Sabah's rights not realised – Jeffrey
KOTA KINABALU: Up to 90 per cent of Sabah's rights have not been realised, especially its financial rights because of the Malaya agenda, alleged Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
If the United Sabah Alliance (USA) is given the mandate to rule Sabah, Jeffrey said the coalition would make changes, including reasserting control on the state's resources, formulating new policies and reverting to the residency system.
He said Sabah had lost many of its rights, such as the 40 per cent entitlement of the net revenue collected from the state, review on Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), and state franchise as identification cards were issued to non-eligible individuals.
Without financial rights, Sabah had to depend on the federal government for development funds, Jeffrey pointed out.
He added that the federal government had also taken away the state's rights on petroleum through the Petroleum Development Act (PDA) even though oil resources should be under the purview of Sabah.
On the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Jeffrey said Sabah should be receiving RM600 million of the RM1.51 billion of GST collected from the state based on the 40 per cent entitlement.
Under the Malaya agenda, he said the federal government would do anything to maintain their power in Sabah and to control its rights and resources.
He pointed out that Malaya only held 65.4 per cent of the total parliamentary seats back in 1963 but today, West Malaysia made up 75 per cent of the overall parliamentary seats.
"This means that the federal government can amend the Constitution and laws anytime without our support," he warned.
Jeffrey said this at the Sabah's Rights Convention for Kota Kinabalu zone organised by the USA here yesterday. The event was officiated by USA chairman Datuk Hj Mohammad Noor Hj Mansoor.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Noor said all leaders of USA subscribed to the concept of combining the parties into an alliance in order to become stronger in the next general election.
"In the 13th General Election (GE13), the opposition parties failed to win the hearts of the people because they are divided.
"This is the Federal Government's divide-and-rule concept, whereby they approve so many political parties to divide us in Sabah.
"If we do not join forces and continue to divide, we will be weak. If we are weak, how can we reclaim our rights?" he asked.
As such, Mohammad Noor said the parties' leaders in USA decided that joining forces was the way to go for GE14.
The USA comprises four parties, namely Star, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), Parti Harapan Rakyat (Harapan) and Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah (PPRS).
Also present were Harapan president Datuk Seri Panglima Lajim Ukin, SAPP president Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee and PPRS president Datuk Seri Mohd Arshad Abdul Mualap.