Kota Kinabalu: Kadamaian Assemblyman Datuk Ewon Benedick reiterated the need for an Inter-Party Committee in the State Assembly to demand the rights of Sabah in the Malaysia Agreement and the Federal Constitution, especially the right to get 40 per cent net revenue derived by the Federal Government from Sabah.
“At the Government block, the consultation process will definitely continue. While some of us have gone to court to claim the rights of Sabah, in today’s political dynamics, unity of effort is very important.
“We can propose the collection of the 40 per cent revenue with Federal revenue that is easy to calculate like income tax,” he said when debating the State 2023 Budget.
This was one of the four recommendations he put forward to strengthen the implementation of the Sabah 2023 Budget, which he said is not only for the implementation of the State 2023 Budget but also related to the Federal Budget for Sabah for next year.
Ewon also suggested the issuance of development bonds by the Sabah Government that are guaranteed by the Federal Government to finance infrastructure development.
“If the Federal Government cannot pay 40 per cent of the Federal revenue derived from Sabah at once, then they need to guarantee this bond as one of the approaches to implement Sabah’s 40 per cent right,” he said.
Ewon, who is United Kinabalu Progressive Organisation (Upko) President-designate, also suggested the creation of a trust account for the distribution of Federal allocations.
“This trust account is important so that there are no more allocation being returned to the Federal Government at the end of each year when the project is not implemented.
“The Federal allocation is for Sabah, so there is no reason it should be returned if one of the projects is not implemented that year. What is important is strict and efficient monitoring and coordination of project implementation.
“We want contractors and consultants who are mandated to implement the project to be strictly monitored by the Government so that no project is delayed,” he said.
Ewon, who is also Penampang Member of Parliament, also proposed that elected representatives chair the project implementation monitoring committee in their respective areas.
“Let assemblymen or Members of Parliament chair the Monitoring Committee for the Implementation of high impact projects in their respective district or constituency.
“I believe that a lot can be resolved at the district level to speed up the implementation of development projects and that there are still things beyond the district’s jurisdiction.
“If there is a matter that cannot be resolved at the district level, then it is the responsibility of the elected representative as Committee Chairman to raise the matter in the State Assembly, Dewan Rakyat or better yet in the Cabinet,” he said.
Ewon also expressed his willingness to cooperate with the Sabah Government led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor in accordance with the dynamics of the formation of the Federal Unity Government led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“The general election has passed and has created a new dynamic of national politics through the formation of the Unity Government. As at the Federal level, so is my hope at Sabah level that we can mobilise efforts and unity to do the best for the people of Sabah. I want to start this cooperation with Salam Perpaduan,” he said.
