PENAMPANG: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has asked the people here not to listen to politicians who come up with statements without facts.
"Issues on region, race, religion are often disuniting the people. Often, this disunity only benefits those on the top level.
"There's an understanding that allocation for Sabah is lesser while Pulau Pinang has a higher (allocation); do not listen to politicians' speeches as they are not based on facts but follow their statements to get support. They twist the facts.
"The allocation for development projects for 2024 is worth RM6.84 billion while Pulau Pinang is RM1.4 billion; how are they counted?
"Why is it higher in Sabah? It is because Sabah has more problems in terms of roads, schools, water supply and electricity, these all need to be improved. It is a joint responsibility between state and federal.
"The people of peninsular Malaysia should not object, but the people of Sabah please at least be thankful and do not get angry. In one year, the (federal) government has spent RM16.21 billion," he said, adding that several matters related to the Malaysia Agreement such as the transfer authority on electricity, under RM50 million projects, and Sabah and Sarawak representatives in the Inland Revenue Board have been solved.
Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, was speaking during the National Hawkers and Small Traders Carnival 2023 (HPPK 2023) at Buhavan Square here.
Present were Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, state cabinet ministers, and Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick.
Last month, several Sabah members of parliament (MP) had demanded a debate on a RM300 million special grant. Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Madius Tangau had said that with the interim payment, it seemed like the 40 per cent revenue sharing was off the table.
Madius had said Sabah had a constitutional right to the 40 per cent net revenue sharing, and with the government getting RM6.3 billion in tax revenue from the state last year, Sabah should get more than RM300 million.
On the Pan Borneo Highway project, Anwar said the state government could no longer use the "old method" in implementing the project but should just appoint qualified contractors to expedite the long overdue highway.
"Although I am not a Sabahan nor married to a Sabahan, I am entrusted to look after all; whether they do not have enough food, live a poor life and roads filled with potholes.
"We will continue to support the leadership of Hajiji for harmony, development and the comfort of the people."