Kota Kinabalu: Pakatan Harapan backed the State Government’s move to drop its challenge against the position of the Sabah Law Society (SLS) in their 40 per cent special grant court case against the Federal Government in the Court of Appeal.
In a statement by the Sabah Pakatan leadership council on Saturday, the coalition said that as part of the State Government, they supported the position and stance taken by Sabah concerning SLS’s court action.
The council stated that they fully understood and respected the decision taken by SLS in bringing Sabah’s 40 per cent constitutional rights to court in their judicial review application.
Sabah Pakatan had in 2022 also initiated a court action against the Federal and State governments by way of originating summons to claim for Sabah’s 40 per cent constitutional right to be respected and implemented.
“Sabah Pakatan, now being part of the Federal and State Government, is determined to ensure that the matter is resolved through the Implementation Action Council and the Technical Committee (MA63 Committee) headed by the Prime Minister and the second Deputy Prime Minister, respectively,” they said.
The council added that Sabah Pakatan viewed positively the continuation of SLS’s action in court, alongside the Federal Government’s commitment to resolve the MA63 matters through the establishment of the MA63 committees with representatives from the Sabah and Sarawak governments.
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“Our approach may differ but our goal remains the same, which is to ensure that the constitutional rights of Sabah in the MA63 are fully respected and implemented,” the leaders said.
State Attorney General Nor Asiah Mohd Yusof had on Friday informed the Court of Appeal that the State Government was withdrawing its appeal on the High Court’s decision to grant leave to SLS in the case.
Meanwhile, on the issue of Madani Village Development Committees (JKDM), Sabah PH takes a strong view that it should not be introduced and implemented in Sabah.
“Just recently the State Legislative Assembly had passed an amendment to the Rural Administration Ordinance which now gives the power and autonomy to the State Government to appoint and manage the administration of village committees such as the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) in Sabah.
“Sabah PH elected representatives supported the amendments to the Rural Administration Ordinance which intention was to give autonomy to the State Government to manage its affairs.
“We welcome any Federal funding given to Sabah, especially for the development and benefit of the rural communities in the State.
“We also believe that such funds should be managed by the State Government to give meaning and respect towards State laws of Sabah,” it said.
Sabah PH also said it was aware of numerous reports and speculations as to their coalition partners in facing the coming State election.
“However, Sabah PH has yet to discuss any understanding or possible alliance(s) to be formed for the coming election.
“Nevertheless, Sabah PH remains part of the Sabah Government and supports the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor and to see that this government reach its full term.
“We are committed in focusing on the development and well-being of the people under the Madani government, Sabah PH said.
