Will Sabah be baby brother of new Malaysia?

Published on: Sunday, March 10, 2019

By: Datuk John Lo

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GREAT expectation that NEW MALAYSIA would be born with PH’s victory in GE14. As a Sabahan, I have privately harboured the excitement that “New Malaysia” will consequent the birth to a baby brother called “New Sabah”. Such expectation was realistic for these reasons:

[a] The W Malaysian PH coalition partners were like “abang adek” with their Sabah based parties before G$14.

[2] They have made manifesto promises which would have made any Sabahan drivelling with 3 ft long saliva.

[3] There was a promise, implied or otherwise that we would become equal partner in Malaysia. In my delusion induced by “New Sabah”, I have this vision that with the share of 20pc of oil royalty, 40pc of share of revenue, reversion of Sabah’s MA rights, our “New Sabah” will be born, that I would be a reborn Malaysian “New Sabahans”, that my children will have the dawn of a new day when Sabah will be all “milk and honey”.

Almost immediately after the unexpected GE14 victory, the PH government announced that it would not be able to pay the 20pc oil royalty that it has promised to do so in its manifesto. Reason given were that the federal government’s financial position was a lot worse than expected. No date of commencement of payment has been offered. It was open ended. Sabah was asked to be patient.

Then the Minister of Finance dropped the bombshell in Sabah, not in the presence of Sabah government leaders but in his own party function that Sabah has to wait for the 40pc share of revenue until the financial situation has improved. This time, we were not asked to be patient. It is kind of like “you have no choice” situation for Sabahans. He also did not say when or how Sabah will be paid this 40pc.

Common practice among gentlemen is if you [federal government] owe an obligation or a debt, you should make decent time arrangements to start payment. As a gentleman, you should know what to do. You should also know that the other party [Sabah] has financial needs and obligations too. Ungentlemanly to keep silent or ignore your obligations to pay.

Then Bersatu announced that it is coming into Sabah, notwithstanding the understanding it has given before GE14.

Of course, it is perfectly within its right to do so in the legal sense. The question is whether a political promise have any value or is a political promise meant to be broken as and when there is political expediency to do? Viewing the political and financial development since GE14 at the federal level, the New Malaysia will be born, albeit with considerable birth pains.

I have worries, much worries that the “New Sabah” I was hoping, will be a still-born baby [dead at birth]. Following are my fears. The Federal Minster of Finance has said many times that Malaysia’s finance is improving, economic growth for 2018 is ok and confident that the Malaysian economy can achieve good recovery within 3 years.

The Jan 2019 economic growth is impressive. For Sabah, such confident statement should be accompanied by a statement to assure us as to when Sabah can expect to receive 20pc oil royalty and 40pc share of revenue.

Silence is ominous that once again Sabah is being pushed to the dark corner, left there to be forgotten until they need Sabah again before GE15. Like it has been for the last 50 years.

Sabahans should be extremely concerned that the Minister of Finance has not said when he can or will pay Sabah the 20pc oil royalty and 40pc of revenue share when he keeps on boasting that the Malaysian economy is on an impressive recovery track.

Decency dictates he should give Sabah a time line to pay these two outstanding items.

If Sabah is an equal partner in Malaysia or that Sabah is being taken seriously, there is no need for Sabah to ask for payment deadline.

He should offer it without being asked. Looking at the last two by-elections in W Malaysia, the PH government has a long way to consolidate its position. It will use all the financial resources at its disposal to do so.

It is coming out with many initiatives to win the voters over such as buying back highways so that it can scrape toll charges for W Malaysians.

Sabahans cannot benefit from this. The way it is spending money, where and when the Minister of Finance can find money to pay us 20pc oil royalty and 40pc revenue share? Sabah politicians better find out for us.

I have grave doubt that all these talks about Sabah being given back our rights including the oil royalty and revenue share under MA63 or Sabahan politicians fighting for them.

We need to ask ourselves who will fight for Sabah when Sabah government is completely under the control of W Malaysian political parties. Will the heads of these parties in Sabah be in a position to fight for Sabah’s case? Or fight for Sabah’s economic interest against their political bosses in KL?

Now, I request Sabahan politicians to take note of this seriously. The 20pc oil royalty is a manifesto promise and the 40pc of revenue share a constitutional obligation. Please focus on getting these 2 payments for Sabah.

If you cannot even get these 2 payments, why bother to fight for other MA63 rights. The most important fight is for the $ sign.

I pray and hope, for the sake of Sabah, the Sabahan politicians from both sides of the political divide will unite in the one endeavour that is most important to us – get the money that is due to us from the federal government. To achieve this, they must adopt the bipartisan approach to show unity to the federal government, that for once, Sabahans are truly united as one.

Sabahan politicians not being able to forge unity on money matters for Sabah is sending a most negative message to the federal government. I don’t dare to imagine the dire economic consequences for Sabah if they continue to scuttle for political self-glorifications over Sabahans’ financial interest.