Anwar has been reasonable to Sabah

Published on: Sunday, August 11, 2024

By: Datuk John Lo

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‘I don’t need a thank you but ask nicely”. This was Anwar’s statement which, I am rather afraid, shows that he is very upset. Not easy to stir him like this. Anwar has seen it all, has gone through the most bitter political trials and tribulations with his family. No doubt he is Malaysia’s ultimate consummate PM.

Something must have upset him tremendously. Whatever it is, I hope he would not take it with an open heart.

Most importantly for Sabah, I hope that the excellent relationship that Anwar and Hajiji have enjoyed since the 1980s will remain strong as their friendship has benefited Sabah tremendously since Hajiji became CM. Because of this long-standing friendship, Hajiji has been able re-balance Sabah/Federal like never before.

Anwar has returned and committed to return Sabah’s MA63 rights more than any other PM.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/malaysia-anwar-sabah-ma63-revenue-40-percent-4527151

SEEKING ANWAR’S UNDERSTANDING AND PATIENCE.

As a Sabahan, I seek Anwar’s understanding and patience.

Sabah and the Federal Government have had an uneasy relationship since the beginning of the Malaysian story. At times, it has been turbulent like during Tun Mustapha’s time. Worst was in mid 1980s when Sabahans have really suffered. The golden era was during Harris’ time.

The cause for this less than perfect Sabah/Federal deserves many PHD thesis. Suffice to say it here, from the perspective of ordinary Sabahans like me, that Federal leaders have exploited Sabah economically for far too long and that many Sabahan leaders have been weak to defend Sabah’s MA63 rights.

My take of the feeling of Sabahans at this stage is this. For a very long time, Sabahans ahave been dismayed, followed by frustrations and finally pretty fed up with the 3rd class treatment of the Federal Government. The political boiling point is building up among ordinary Sabahans which will, no doubt, impact on the coming election. Sensing this, some political leaders may have been overly outspoken. Perhaps some have even been aggressive.

Reflective of the Anwar/Hajiji cordial relationship, things have gotten much better recently when a number of MA63 rights have been returned to Sabah, most important of which are those in oil and gas and the authority on power generation. I would add that the Hajiji/Anwar relationship, in the context of MA63 rights and other economic issues, has been, by far, the best for Sabah.

The one and only remaining major “thorn in the flesh” issue for Sabah is Sabah’s 40% net revenue share right. Outstanding far too long!

Many PMs and Ministers of Finance have deliberately avoided or delayed payment and said bluntly that the Federal Government could not afford to pay Sabah.

The only payments made are peanuts. These payments were to assuage and hoodwink Sabah into giving up the 40% claim. How can Sabahans not be angry when the Federal Government has billions to spend in Malaya?

AG Brandon has confirmed in the press that Sabah has written many times to the Federal Government to which, not for the first time, it has not received the courtesy of an acknowledgement since 2022. In the meantime, the agreed due date in July 2024 has come and gone.

This is most disappointing to Sabahans because what Anwar is saying to Sabahans is not being carried out by the Federal Government. I hope Anwar will look into this thorny issue and crack the whip.

Anwar, being a man of reason, can understand Sabahans’ impatience and see to it that this most important issue to Sabahans can have a closure ASAP.

Please read Sabah’s SG Datuk Brandon Soh’s statement.

https://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news/239404/state-government-committed-to-pursuing-40pc-revenue-says-state-ag/

DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN “ASK” AND ENTITILEMENT.

When it comes to money in the context of Sabah/Federal relationship, there must be depth of clarity. Anwar is right to say that we should ask nicely way.

There are also many rights which Sabah needn’t have to ask by virtue that Sabah is a 1/3 partner in Malaysa, like the 40% net revenue share which should have been paid years ago without Sabah having to beg and fight for it as it is Sabah’s constitutional rights. Obligation is on the Federal Government to pay us promptly.

Reality is that Sabahans are very frustrated and deeply disappointed with successive Federal Governments’ blatant attempts of procrastinations. In all fairness to Sabah, the Federal Government should stop its practice of delaying tactic against Sabah. Just pay Sabah what is due, past and present as a matter routine.

There shouldn’t be a need for Sabah Law Society to sue the Federal Government. The Federal Government’s appeal to the Federal Court on SLS’s Local Standi, after losing in the High Court and Court of Appeal, is “bad faith” as far as Sabahans are concerned. I look forward to Anwar’s instruction to reverse it.

SABAH WISHES ANWAR TO BE OUR PM AS MUCH AS HE IS PM OF SELANGOR AND JOHOR.

[a] Sabah is being pretty much cold-shouldered in Anwar’s NIMP 2030 [New Industrial Master Plan].

[b] Sabah has got nothing from Anwar’s highly successful promotion of foreign direct investments into Malaya, amounting to hundreds of billions.

[c] Also nothing in from semi-conductor and automobile investments.

[d] It would mean a lot to Sabah if Anwar, as PM, can assist Sabah, like he has done for Selangor, Johor and Penang in the followings:

[i] The Federal Government can assist Sabah in the downstream of oil palm as Sabah is the largest oil palm state. Sabah has miniscule downstream now. Very importantly, Sabah is the only state that has a bio-mass enactment.

Anwar can help Sabah at the stroke of the pen in the form of an investor friendly federal policy on downstream in Sabah. The Federal Government does not need to spend money.

[ii] The Federal Government can assist Sabah to fight inflation which has scourged us for decades. It should stop “1 size fits all” policy on fighting inflation by adopting some Sabah-specific polices. Reasons? Sabah has suffered the highest inflation and lowest household income in Malaysia for decades.

Anwar has heaped billions to both Selangor and Johor with some fantastic economic initiatives like the Singapore/Johor Special Economic Zone. He can approve a special economic zone between Sabah and Kalimantan.

We are not jealous of Selangor and Johor. Just hearting breaking to see the bias against Sabah. The Federal Government can, quite easily, implement these for Sabah.

We are requesting [not demanding] for Anwar to give more solution-based attention/policies that are specific to Sabah.

SABAH’S REEQUEST:

SABAHANS WOULD LIKE ANWAR TO BE OUR PM AS MUCH AS HE IS THE PM OF THE PEOPLE OF SELANGOR AND JOHOR.

I wish our PM well; may God grant him continuous good health and vigour for him to continue as our PM for many more years.

The views expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express.

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