Claim for 40pc entitlement nothing to do with politics: Pakar
Published on: Thursday, July 23, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: The claim for the 40 per cent entitlement has nothing to do with politics but it is about the rights of Sabah and what is due to the people, said Parti Kerjasama Rakyat Sabah (Pakar) Secretary General, Zainnal Ajamain.He said news that the Prime Minister had agreed to set-up a special committee to advise him on the Sabah 40 per cent entitlements took Sabah by storm. Announced just days before Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, he said it was Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and his team's Hari Raya gift to Sabah.
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"There was nothing more close to the people's heart than getting their rights in accordance to the Malaysia Agreement 1963."However, not all Sabahans are enthusiastically happy about this news; there are segments of Sabah society who are against these efforts not because it is not good, rather it is because of their own myopic political agenda," he said.Responding to the PKR Sabah chief, Datuk Lajim Ukin's claim that the BN was making use of Star Sabah chief, Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan with Zainnal having played a role in it, he said:"I may not have multiple doctorates to my name, but I don't think I am stupid enough to be used by anyone."
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"As far as I am concerned, what Anifah is doing is beyond partisan politics and for that he has my undivided support as a Sabahan," said Zainnal."I believe Anifah was very selective in forming his team, he did not just choose any leader for political convenience, and he wanted leaders with good educational background, who can be assertive and will not easily cower.
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"At least the team would earn respect when facing Putrajaya not ridicule. After all it is about Sabah rights and Sabah's future not just claiming allocation for jalan-jalan kampong," he said.It was also wrong for Lajim to claim that Anifah did not invite PKR."Anifah did officially invite (Penampang MP) Darrell Leiking to represent PKR instead of the multiple doctorate Lajim, for the first session in UMS on March 7, 2015. "In addition, I personally met with Darrell to convince him to attend the forum in UMS, he promised to reschedule his itinerary. However Darrell must have more important party matters to turn down such a historic event," he said.As for former Chief Minister Tan Sri Harris Salleh's claim that the 40 per cent entitlement was no longer binding, Zainnal said it was to the contrary because it has never been repealed in the Federal Constitution. "There is no way that the Malaysia parliament can repeal Schedule V, Part IV – Special Grants to State of Sabah and Sarawak, item 2(1) without also amending the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the Inter-Governmental Committee Report."To amend the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the Inter-Governmental Committee Report all the signatories must sit together as peers and amend it accordingly. "This would include the representatives from the United Kingdom, the Federation of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak," he said.In order to activate Schedule V, Part IV – Special Grants to State of Sabah and Sarawak, item 2(1), it must start with a review which was specified in Article 112D of the Federal Constitution. Zainnal said the review must be undertaken by a group of people – therefore, the committee was critical and must be formed immediately. "It is therefore obvious that people who have something against what is being done for Sabah, are ignorant and clueless about the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the Federal Constitution. Their stupidity shines brightly, the more they speak," he said.Zainnal also advised Harris, to enjoy his retirement as "your time to administer Sabah is over."Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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