2/3 of the demands have been finalized, OS becomes academic if continued - UPKO Youth

21 Sept 2023

By Wartawan Nabalu News

KOTA KINABALU: The Unity Government has resolved two of the three demands made by the 12 Members of Parliament from the Pakatan Harapan (PH) Sabah in their originating summons (OS) against the Federal and State Government.

The first matter that was finalized is the amendment to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) Act to allow representatives from the State Governments of Sabah and Sarawak to be appointed to the LHDN Board.

"Now both state governments have access to information on the federal revenue collected in their respective states,” United Progressive Kinabalu Organization (UPKO) Penampang Youth Chief Billy Dominic said.

Billy in a statement yesterday said that the second matter resolved pertained to the Government Gazette issued in April 2022 where the Unity Government decided to issue a new gazette regarding the interim solution for special grants to the governments of Sabah and Sarawak, thereby cancelling the previous gazette.

The third matter, he said was pertaining to the implementation of the 40 per cent federal revenue sharing, adding, “the Government has also decided on a timeframe for finalizing the implementation of the federal revenue sharing formula for Sabah and Sarawak, which is set for July 2024.

"On behalf of the UPKO Youth Movement in Penampang, I have read and analysed the comments made by various parties regarding the decision of the 12 PH Sabah MPs to withdraw their originating summons (OS) yesterday.

"I hope all parties making these comments will read the OS document, which can be accessed on the court's website, to truly understand the claims that have been brought to court. It should also be known that the court allowed them to refile this OS if the demand for the remaining issues are not resolved,” he said.

Billy pointed out that after being appointed as the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives minister, UPKO President Datuk Ewon Benedick declared legal action against the government, which he pursued together with the PH Sabah MPs earlier and subsequently used Cabinet meetings to pursue the same matters he demanded in court through the OS.

"Ewon has stated that he will continue the OS, even when Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim became the Prime Minister, and he has proven that he continued the OS for almost 10 months while Anwar was Prime Minister and at the same time pursued it through Cabinet and the Technical Committee of the Implementation of the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MTPMA63),” Billy stressed.

"Two-thirds of the demands have been decided and finalized. As for the remaining one-third, it has already been decided, and a timeframe has been given for finalization. If this OS is continued, it will become academic. There is no need to continue the OS for demands that have been resolved," he said.

Billy also expressed his pride in being part of the team that helped Ewon pursue these demands in court and, at the same time, proposed solutions in Cabinet meetings and Cabinet Committee meetings.

"As a Special Duties Officer to Ewon, I am well aware of what he has been fighting for through various platforms related to Sabah's rights. In the UPKO anniversary celebration last August, the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Armizan Ali, affirmed Ewon's determination in the Cabinet regarding Sabah's interests.

"I am very confident that Ewon will continue to be resolute on this matter and will ensure that the decisions made by the government are implemented. The action taken by Ewon and the other plaintiffs to seek the court's approval to refile the OS if the remaining one-third regarding the implementation of the 40 percent grant proves the wisdom of all the plaintiffs. The court has already granted approval for this yesterday," he said.