Put Sabah’s RM6.7 billion allocation in trust devt account – Jeffrey

KOTA KINABALU (Oct 20): Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan hopes that Sabah’s RM6.7 billion allocation from Budget 2025 can be placed in a trust development account.

“The Budget is generally good, but I hope that Sabah’s allocation can be put in a trust development account so that we can use it as we need it.

“In the past, the problem is that these allocations are recycled. Because by the end of year, you get the money, but the account has to be closed and you have to return the money.

“So this time around, we want it to be put in a trust development account, so that the allocation can be carried over and we can proceed with the implementation of projects.

“This trust account is expected to be set up by next year,” he told reporters after visiting the C2 deep sea fishing vessel exhibition at the Kota Kinabalu Port here on Sunday.

On the doubling of the Special Grant for Sabah and Sarawak to RM600 million for Budget 2025, Jeffrey said it is a good sign, but they do not want to see a routine habit of just dealing with the matter of interim payments.

Despite welcoming the increase in interim payment for the two states, he stressed that Sabah is still seeking a final resolution for the longstanding issue.

“We want a final resolution so that we can finally settle this matter. We have waited for 61 years, so why not resolve it once and for all? Hopefully it will be resolved within the next one or two years,” he said.

On Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when tabling the Budget 2025 had announced that Sabah is allocated RM6.7 billion and Sarawak gets RM5.9 billion, which are the highest when compared to all other states.

Anwar also announced that the government proposed to double the special grants for Sabah and Sarawak to RM600 million next year, earlier saying that the Madani government has fulfilled the promises of past leaders pursuant to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).