The opposition in Sabah is questioning Chief Minister Musa Aman's sudden turnaround and push for higher oil royalties.
KOTA KINABALU: With the approach of the 13th general election, various issues in Sabah once considered too hot to handle by the Barisan Nasional government are being picked up without inhibition by the same leaders, triggering questions of sincerity.
First came the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the dramatic increase in the population of Sabah, an issue the federal government had shied away from for decades.
Now hot on its heels is the sudden readiness of state BN leaders to ask the federal government to raise the pittance it is paying for the state’s oil wealth to a fairer level.
Both issues were ignored by Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman until recently and opposition politicians are asking, why now?
State Reform Party (STAR) Sabah chairman Jeffrey Kitingan fired the first salvo by questioning Musa’s sudden about-turn on the 5% oil royalty issue when he had previously been adamant that it was not an issue as the federal government was pouring money into the state in other ways.
Jeffrey said he hoped that the review Musa was asking for was not a mere election gimmick to hoodwink the voters in Sabah.
MP for Sepangar Eric Majimbun agrees with Jeffrey. He said suddenly the state government leaders seem to be panicking and paying attention to the Sabah electorate’s grievances.
Majimbun, who is also Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) deputy president, said the timing of these climb-downs by the state government was suspect.
Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak will be in Sabah next month and Majimbun believes that he will announce the federal government’s commitment to study the proposals to calm Sabahans who are said to be turning away from the ruling coalition in droves.
Speaking to FMT yesterday, he said: “In view of the coming 13th general election, doesn’t this look like a bit of `sandiwara’ (soap opera) in action just like the government’s announcement on the formation of the RCI on the illegal immigrant problems in Sabah?”
“Najib might even announce the government’s approval in principle to increase the oil royalty to 20% as demanded by the oppositions or even to 30%” to buy and help the state governments get re-elected.
Musa’s excuse
Musa’s excuse
According to Majimbun, as chief executive of the state government, Musa could have just made a demand for an increase in the oil royalty without first tabling such a demand for approval from the State Legislative Assembly.
“Going through the State Assembly is just an excuse. Musa, as Sabah Umno and BN chief, is just not bothered or worried about the well-being of the people of Sabah,” he said.
He said Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud was way ahead on the matter compared to his counterpart as he did not bring the matter to the assembly because as he is the chief minister it is his responsibility to shoulder the demands of the people.
“Musa should just do likewise,” Majimbun said.
He pointed out that Taib was even willing to put politics aside by having discussion with state leaders from both sides of the political divide and strike common ground on the issue for the good of the people of Sarawak.
Majimbun said his party had been vocal about this for years and its resolution was long overdue.
Kalau KM diam pun dipersoalkan, kalau bercakap pun lagilah bising. Isu royati minyak ni sepatutnya tidak dipolitikkan.
ReplyDeleteBeginilah manusia, sukar sangat nak dipuaskan keinginan mereka. Ada saja yang tak kena.
Deletebegitulah pembangkang.. mulut macam buntut ayam.. patut la sentiasa gagal merampas kerajaan.. bagi saya pembangkang tidak pernah ikhlas membangkitkan masalah2 rakyat.. tujuan utama mereka hanya untuk merampas kerajaan.
DeleteRCI untuk Royalti? Mungkin bagus juga cadangan ini. Tapi rasanya tidak perlu pun RCI, cuma perlu perbincangan saja mengenai perkara ini. Kerana ini bukannya melibatkan semua pihak tapi cuma melibatkan persetujuan kedua-dua pihak Kerajaan negeri dan Kerajaan Persekutuan.
ReplyDeleteKita sokong sajalah asalkan apa yang pemimpin buat itu mendatangkan kebaikan buat Sabahan.
ReplyDeletebaik kekalkan saja kerajaan sedia ada.. penubuhan RCI dan kajian semula royalti minyak adalah petanda baik bahawa kerajaan yang kita ada hari ini sememangnya mendahulukan rakyat.. samada pilihanraya semakin hampir atau tidak,,, ada ku kesah....?
DeletePakatan Rakyat = Protest Rally ,Promises Ridiculously , Populist Romantically ,Plain Ruthless, Play Racial , Political Rhetoric , People Rebel just to accomplish Pas Reality to be Putrajaya Robber that end up the Public Rebel will happen because it will just end up with People Regret
ReplyDeleteadakah Pembangkang ikhlas membangkit masalah2 di Sabah jika selepas dibangkitkan mereka juga yang tampil mempertikaikan langkah yang diambil oleh kerajaan bagi menyelesaikan masalah tersebut??
ReplyDelete""Both issues were ignored by Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman until recently and opposition politicians are asking, why now?""
ReplyDeletecontoh soalan yang sudah dia jawab sendiri.. why now?? because opposition only aggressively bring this up NOW..
""Jeffrey Kitingan fired the first salvo by questioning Musa’s sudden about-turn on the 5% oil royalty issue when he had previously been adamant that it was not an issue as the federal government was pouring money into the state in other ways.""
ReplyDeletesi Jeffrey kalau kena desak berkali2, pendirian dia pun boleh berubah2.. sedangkan Jffrey sendiri pun tidak ada pendirian.. asyik lompat sana sini.. jika beliau jadi KM, tidak mustahil keputusan beliau juga boleh berubah2..
""Jeffrey said he hoped that the review Musa was asking for was not a mere election gimmick to hoodwink the voters in Sabah.""
ReplyDeleteJeffey juga sedang bermain dengan gimik pilihanraya.. jika tidak, sepatutnya dia telah lama bersetuju dengan langkah kerajaan itu tanpa perlu melihat kepada faktor pilihanraya..
""MP for Sepangar Eric Majimbun agrees with Jeffrey. He said suddenly the state government leaders seem to be panicking and paying attention to the Sabah electorate’s grievances.""
ReplyDeleteapa yang saya lihat, Erik dan pemimpin2 pembagkang yang panik bila kerajaan bersedia menyelesaikan masalah2 rakyat di negeri ini..
"In view of the coming 13th general election, doesn’t this look like a bit of `sandiwara’"
ReplyDeletekenapa setiap kali tiba pilihanraya, banyak pula janji2 pembangkang kepada rakyat?? bukankah ianya juga sandiwara??
""Najib might even announce the government’s approval in principle to increase the oil royalty to 20% as demanded by the oppositions or even to 30%” to buy and help the state governments get re-elected.""
ReplyDeletekalau betul kerajaan akan umumkan kenaikkan royalti setinggi itu, betuahlah rakyat Malaysia kerana memiliki kerajaan yang berani melakukan perubahan.. memang wajar kerajaan BN dikekalkan selepas PRU13..
pembangkang wajar ditolak ketepi kerana tugas mereka lebih banyak meroyan dari membangkang..
Najib baru 4 tahun mentadbir negara ini.. musa aman baru 9 tahun.. namun banyak pembaharuan telah dan sedang dilaksanakan.. malah masalah2 yang timbul hari ini bukanlah disebabkan oleh mereka..
ReplyDeleteDatuk Musa Aman said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was a caring leader who was always prepared to listen to the people and their needs by open up the oil royalties issue for discussion.
ReplyDeleteChief Minister of Sabah said he is confident that the royalties issue is open for discussion and what's important is that we scrutinise the matter and reach the best decision for the mutual benefit of all concerned
ReplyDeleteSarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud was quoted as saying the state government would discuss the need to review the five percent petroleum royalty paid to Sarawak, with the federal government.
ReplyDeleteEven Sarawak will be discussing the issue with Datuk Najib, hope that this will help increase the oil royalties for both East Malaysian states.
The Prime Minister Datuk Najib Razak has announced that a special committee would be set up to study the petroleum royalty payments involving the eastern states of Peninsula Malaysia, in a fair and transparent manner
ReplyDeleteThe committee was given six months to study the issue before submitting its proposals to the federal government. Lets just hope the special committee will come up with a good proposal to distribute royalty payments to East Malaysian states.
ReplyDeleteA petroleum royalty review, which may pave the way for the State Government to discuss a new rate, is indeed timely, said Sabah Puteri Umno Chief, Musliati Muslimin.
ReplyDeleteShould the discussions materialise and succeed, it would give Sabah the financial boost for new developments and would also benefit the people, she said.
ReplyDelete"It is appropriate for the State's petroleum royalty to be reviewed.
ReplyDeleteWe have always wanted it to be increased," she revealed during her Hari Raya Open house at her residence here, Wednesday. She said the royalty issue was in fact one of the topics discussed among Umno members in the party's bid to help the people.
ReplyDeleteHopefully, the new royalty rate would be a win-win quantum between the State and Federal governments, she added.
ReplyDeleteShe also said the new rate would especially help Sabahans to cushion the burden of spiraling prices of goods and items.
ReplyDeleteMusliati's comments came a day after Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said he would bank on the cordial relationship of the State and Federal governments to make way for discussions regarding the petroleum royalty.
ReplyDeleteBelieving the topic is open for discussion - after the Government of Sarawak on Monday had expressed the need to review their five per cent royalty - Musa added, the best way for Sabah is to scrutinise the matter and reach a mutual decision with the Federal Government.
ReplyDelete