Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and Sabah Umno all concurred that Putrajaya should make good on its 20% oil royalty pledge and also return the 40% net revenue owed by the federal government to the state.
PBS president Maximus Ongkili said his party was not expecting anything spectacular to be announced come Oct 11.
“It is useless to make new promises in the 2020 national budget when the current government’s election promises have not been delivered. Now, no one can believe that they can actually deliver their promises.
“PBS has given up hope of anything new and innovative, especially those that are beneficial to the people. The last budget was a disappointment.
“We join the people on the call for the current government to fulfil the election promises. There are 100 on the list,” the Kota Marudu MP told FMT.
Besides increasing the oil royalty from 5% to 20%, and returning the 40% net revenue, Ongkili said the government should also work to reduce the prices of goods and services, and improve the prices of commodities.
SAPP president Yong Teck Lee reminded PH that the oil royalty was among the big items in its 2018 election manifesto, adding the net revenue was also a constitutional obligation.
“They must also remember the autonomy powers, as repeatedly promised by federal leaders and political parties,” said the former chief minister.
Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin said money from the oil royalty and net revenue were critically needed, adding the state could plan for various kinds of development projects, especially on infrastructure, when these promises were delivered.
The Kinabatangan MP said PH should emulate the previous Barisan Nasional administration which “channelled substantial funds and efforts towards uplifting people’s lives and improving infrastructure in Sabah’s rural areas”.
“That is the agenda needed. The government should also find a solution to address the many Sabahans leaving the state in search of better economic and job prospects.
“This is happening every year, in fact on a monthly basis. The Warisan-led government promised to create thousands of job opportunities but until now we are not seeing people benefitting from that,” he claimed.