KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili has challenged critics to show proof that the government is "colonising" Sabah.
The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) said it was unfair to hurl such accusations without proof.
This, he said, could be construed as an act to purposely rouse sentiments and sow confusion among the public.
Ongkili was referring to a claim made by Sepanggar member of parliament Datuk Azis Jamman during the 2022 Budget debate in the Dewan Rakyat, in which the latter had described the budget as being unfair towards Sabah.
Azis had said that should the unfairness continue, Sabahans cannot be blamed for wanting to secede if they felt that Putrajaya's "colonialism" was growing stronger.
"I know you have good intentions, but it is dangerous to say that Putrajaya 'jajah' (colonised) us. However, if you believe it is true, provide us with proof," Ongkili said in his winding up speech on the 2022 Budget.
He said parliamentarians have to be mindful of their words as the administration upholds the principles of "Keluarga Malaysia".
Ongkili, who is Kota Marudu MP, said instead of assigning blame, everyone should work together to ensure that voices are heard and demands are met.
"File your charges if there are cases of non-compliance in the agreement with the Special Council on the Malaysia Agreement (MKMA63), which is chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri, and has the chief ministers of Sabah and Sarawak and eight senior leaders as members.
"This is part of the MKMA63's purpose, to study and check for non-compliance, many of which have been addressed and settled," he said.
He added that the Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Division was also set up to listen to the public's grouses and voices.
On another matter, Ongkili said further discussions on oil royalty and cash payments for petroleum, oil minerals and oil fields, the Territorial Sea Act 2012 and the Continental Shelf Act 1966, have been put on hold to make way for a commercial solution pertaining to the ongoing deliberation on oil and gas between the Sabah and Sarawak governments and Petronas.
Responding to queries from Kota Belud MP Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis, Kota Kinabalu MP Foong Chan Hin and Keningau MP Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan on the special grant under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution, Ongkili said discussions with the Finance Ministry under the Joint Consultative Committee will resume as soon as possible.
"The current rate for the special grant under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution is based on the amount stated under the Special Grant Order (First Reading) in 1969, where the last amount was RM26.7 million for Sabah and RM16 million for Sarawak."