‘WILL PM HAVE MORE GOOD NEWS FOR SABAH NEXT MONTH?’

‘Will PM have more good news for Sabah next month?’

KOTA KINABALU August 23, 2012: After announcing the much-awaited setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry on the presence of illegal immigrants in Sabah, will the Prime Minister have more good news for Sabahans next month?

This was the question raised by Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) deputy president Datuk Eric Majimbun.

“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is expected to visit Sabah next month, so will he announce the increase in oil royalty for Sabah from 5 per cent to 20 per cent as demanded by the Opposition?

“Or would the Prime Minister give in to demands from Sabah and Sarawak and increase the royalty to 30 per cent?” he asked.

According to Eric, if this is the case, Sabah’s revenue will increase by RM8 billion and this will ensure a surplus budget for the state.

The Member of Parliament for Sepanggar was of the opinion that the demand by Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties to have the matter tabled in the State Assembly is just an excuse and this reflects a lack of seriousness about the review.

Meanwhile, United Pasokmomogun KadazanDusun Murut Organization (UPKO) secretary general Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau was terse in his response saying he will raise the matter in the party’s supreme council meeting this Friday, August 24.

Eric and Wilfred were asked to comment on the statement by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman that he believes the oil royalty issue is open for amicable discussions with the federal government.

Musa made the statement when commenting on a report that Sarawak state leaders from both sides of the political divide had reached a common ground in urging the federal government to review the five per cent oil royalty paid to the state in the past four decades.

Urging the federal Government to review the oil royalty to Sabah has been something Parti

Land Development Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing had suggested the review of oil royalties for Terengganu and Kelantan by a special committee to be set up by the Federal Government should also include Sabah and Sarawak as both states were the main contributors to the national petroleum production.