Govt to finalise Sabah revenue sharing formula by July, says Ewon

Upko president Ewon Benedick said a working committee had been set up to draft the mechanism.

KOTA KINABALU: The federal government has agreed to finalise the implementation of the formula for revenue sharing with Sabah by July next year, United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) president Ewon Benedick said.

Ewon, who is also entrepreneur development and cooperatives minister, said the agreement came through the participation of Sabah leaders in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) technical committee.

This was decided in the committee, chaired by deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof, he said after Upko’s national convention here today.

Ewon said a working committee had been set up and will be chaired by Sabah, Sarawak affairs minister Armizan Ali.

He also said the percentage of the special grant under Article 112D had been improved and the federal government would regazette it.

Ewon said Upko would focus on strengthening cooperation among political parties that are supporting the unity government in Sabah, but did not elaborate on the strategies or approach the party would take for the upcoming Sabah state elections, including seat negotiations.

“For now, I would like to avoid speculating on such matters. Everything will be answered when it is really the time to talk about elections,” he said.

Earlier, during his speech to party delegates, Ewon said that Upko needed to win more seats in the upcoming Sabah state elections.

He said he would determine which seats to contest. - FMT