PUTRAJAYA has promised to restore the rights that were taken away from Sabah and Sarawak ahead of the 14th General Election.

Prime Minister Najib Razak said he had called for a committee to study the state rights of Sabah and Sarawak that were lost so that they could be returned.

“And, we will negotiate like brothers, so there is no longer need for slogans like Sabah for Sabahans and Sarawak for Sarawakians,” he said during the Malaysia Day Celebrations in Kota Kinabalu.

Also present were the Sabah head of state Juhar Mahiruddin, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman, Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg and members of the state governments.

“We want ‘Sabah for Malaysia and Malaysia for Sabah’ to be the new slogan in the state,” he added.

He said this was important as he also wanted to reduce the development gap between the East Malaysian states and the peninsula.

“This is why we have continued to channel funds amounting to RM30 billion to build a toll-less highway from Teluk Melano to Lawas and from Sindumin to Tawau. 

“This is our gift to Malaysians in East Malaysia,” said Najib, referring to the Pan Borneo Highway that was launched in 2015. – September 16, 2017.