Datuk Ewon Benedick has responded to critics who accused Upko and Sabah Pakatan Harapan of abandoning the pursuit of Sabah’s rights after withdrawing a lawsuit against Putrajaya regarding state entitlements. Benedick, the president of Upko, stated that they were successful in their efforts and emphasized that the fight for rights should occur while in the Cabinet, not outside of it.
Addressing the criticism raised by Parti Warisan member Chin Teck Ming, Benedick asserted that there was no conflict of interest, despite some plaintiffs holding positions in the government or government-linked companies (GLCs) under the unity government. Additionally, Kerjasama Anak Negeri president Datuk Henyus Amin claimed that the withdrawal weakened Sabah’s ability to assert its claims.
Benedick countered that progress had been made regarding the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and highlighted that the lawsuit influenced the Federal Cabinet’s decision to fulfill two out of the three declarations sought by Sabah Pakatan in the originating summons (OS).
Moreover, Benedick stated that the court granted all 12 plaintiffs the freedom to file a new suit if they were dissatisfied with the resolution based on the 40% revenue tax formula, which determined Sabah’s entitlement.
In a joint statement issued on September 20th, the 12 Sabah Pakatan plaintiffs announced that the government had agreed to two out of the three declarations. The first declaration ensures that the Sabah government representative becomes a member of the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) board to receive disclosure of the total amount of net revenue collected annually from Sabah. The second declaration calls for a review of the special grants given to Sabah in 2022, with the aim of increasing the amount of these grants.
The third declaration sought by Sabah Pakatan demands a review of the net revenue and calls for the revision of the continued payment of RM26.7 million from 1974, proposing instead a calculation based on the 40% formula.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
