PUTRAJAYA must not delay paying Sabah what is due to the state, as per the Malaysia Agreement 1963, said Parti Warisan Sabah deputy president Darell Leiking.

He pledged to continue pressuring the Pakatan Harapan federal government on the matter.

Sabah is entitled to 40% of state revenue collected by the federal government, as well as 20% in oil royalty, said Leiking, adding that he fully supports Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal’s call for Putrajaya to immediately proceed with revenue sharing.

“My fellow MPs from Sabah, as well as in the cabinet, and I will ensure‎ we get what we are entitled to.

“And, we have a chief minister who is strong and has made (his stand) clear on these matters,” he told reporters during the launch of the first Aerospace Seminar in Kota Kinabalu today.

He was responding to Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng’s statement on Wednesday, that the federal government will only share revenue with Sabah and Sarawak after the country’s financial position improves.

“He (Lim) may have his reasons for saying it. The chief minister is also right with what he wants,” said Leiking.

“But so far, I have not gotten the details. Only after the Budget announcement will we know.”

He said it is likely that the delay is because Putrajaya is in the midst of working out the mechanism to pay the 40% entitlement and 20% oil royalty.

Public records show that Putrajaya has failed to provide Sabah ‎its 40% revenue entitlement since 1974.

Leiking said the refund of the said revenue was among the reasons for Sabahans’ anger towards the previous Barisan Nasional regime, adding that BN leaders had twisted the facts.

“They have continued to say the federal government has given a huge allocation to the state through a development fund.

“But this is revenue that the federal government collected from Sabah. It should not be mixed up with a development fund.”

He gave an assurance that the state will get what it seeks, as Malaysia now has a prime minister who acknowledges that Sabah and Sarawak have been unfairly treated.

“The previous administration formed numerous committees to resolve the matter, and failed.

“Now, you have us (Warisan), a strategic partner to PH, and we’ve set up committees to resolve the issue within just six months of being in power.” – October 28, 2018.