Kota Kinabalu: Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said Member of Parliament for Tuaran Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau is obliged to clarify how the Warisan-plus State Government in 2019 officially agreed to a special grant of only RM53.4 million for Sabah, compared to RM300 million now.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak and Special Duties) said Madius should not just focus on demanding that Federal explain the formula in determining the special grant.
He said Madius, who is Upko Honorary President, owe it to Sabahans to explain how RM53.4 million was determined and agreed upon when he was Deputy Chief Minister and part of the Warisan-led State Government.
“The Warisan Plus State Government through an official letter dated 18 October 2019 agreed to accept the Federal Ministry of Finance’s offer for a new rate of special grants of only RM53.4 million starting in 2020. The State Government’s letter stated that the agreement was decided in the Sabah Cabinet meeting on October 16, 2019.
“At that time, the gazette was in the process of being issued but not fully completed when the Warisan-led Government had to dissolve the Sabah State Legislative Assembly (DUN) after a majority of Assembly members did not support the leadership of the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.
“As soon as the new government was formed after the 2020 State Election (PRN), under the leadership of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), the agreement made by Warisan Government for only RM53.4 million was withdrawn by new Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor.
“Hajiji immediately wrote to the Federal Government to cancel Warisan’s initial agreement of only RM53.4 million and (Hajiji) asking for negotiations to be redone to get a higher amount,” Armizan said.
Armizan, who is also Member of Parliament for Papar, was asked to comment on a call by Madius for Federal to explain the formula following a written announcement of a Federal Government Gazette at the sitting of Parliament on Wednesday.
Madius had said such matter should be debated in the Parliament so that the Sabah MPs can get the explanation from Federal which they could convey to the people of Sabah.
Also present at the press conference with Madius were Member of Parliament for Ranau Datuk Jonathan Yasin, Member of Parliament for Kota Belud Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis@Fakharudy (Warisan); Member of Parliament for Kudat, Dato’ Verdon Bahanda (Independent) and Member of Parliament for Tenom, Riduan Rubin (Independent).
“If he (Madius) disputed the amount of RM300 million (as the new rate), now I am asking him what was the basis for (then Warisan state government) agreeing to only RM53.4m, in the first place.
“The State Government’s letter stated that the agreement for the RM53.4 million was decided in the Sabah Cabinet meeting on October 16, 2019 where Madius was also involved as he was the then Deputy Chief Minister,” Armizan said.
He reiterated that the consent of the Warisan State Government was clearly contained in the State Government’s official letter to the Malaysian Ministry of Finance in October 2019.
“This matter was also mentioned in the tabling of 2020 Sabah State Budget. In the letter, the agreement did not mention specific conditions, without mentioning the 40 per cent demand, nor did it mention the ‘interim’ rate, compared to the present State Government’s stance now.
As Deputy Chief Minister at the time, I believe Madius is responsible for explaining to Sabahans what is the basis for agreeing to only RM53 million, not to mention that the Warisan State Government letter clearly stated that the agreement was referred to the Sabah State Cabinet meeting,” Armizan said.
He said the review of special grant rates for Sabah and Sarawak with the presentation of the Federal Government Gazette on Nov 24, 2023 is a follow-up to the joint agreement with the State Governments of Sabah and Sarawak.
He said the RM300 million rate is an interim arrangement as explained in the Prime Minister’s media statement on Nov 29, 2023. It is understood that pending final agreement on the formula, the special grant started to be issued in 2022 (RM125.6m), 2023 (RM300m), 2024 (RM306m), 2025 (RM312m) and 2026 (RM318m) and 2027 (RM325m).
Armizan said this gazette can be amended at any time once a new agreement is reached between the three levels of government.
