STATE rights embodied in the federal constitution and a highway to Indonesia’s new capital are among Sabah Umno’s promises as it seeks to snatch back the state in the next general election.

Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin told The Malaysian Insight that the chapter, which will soon have the power to act independent of the party’s federal leadership, is looking at 11 new strategies towards this end.

One of the biggest baits it has thrown is to have promises contained in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) embodied in the federal constitution, so that Putrajaya cannot avoid giving Sabah what is due to the state.

“MA63 will be embodied in the constitution, and the agreement’s terms and conditions will be implemented instantly,” said Bung Moktar.

“Unlike, the Pakatan Harapan government, which is using MA63 to toy with Sabahans’ emotions, the state Umno will also realise the 20% oil royalty and 40% revenue entitlement once it comes to power.”

Another offer is a highway linking Sabah to the new Indonesian capital in Kalimantan Timur, he said.

He said the state Umno will initiate talks with Putrajaya and the Indonesian government on the highway, adding that the route will boost the local economy and provide jobs to Sabah folk.

Bung Moktar said the highway will see Sabah entrepreneurs reap the spillover effects from Indonesia’s move to relocate its administrative centre from Jakarta in the coming years.

These entrepreneurs stand to benefit immensely from Kalimantan’s population of 50 million, he said.

He also said Sabah Umno is confident about delivering on its pledges, as it will have autonomy from the party’s federal leadership in the peninsula.

The Umno general assembly in November will endorse the said autonomy, he said.

“This means once Sabah Umno gets autonomy, we will be unlike any other Umno chapter. We will have the power to decide our own direction.”

He said this will allow the state Umno to choose its own polls candidates, and who will serve as chief minister should it win elections.

Another promise is to end the federal government’s control over annual allocations to develop Sabah.

Instead, said Bung Moktar, the state government will only need to convey how much it needs, and Putrajaya will approve the funds.

“It will be the people of Sabah who determine how much they need, and the state will no longer be subject to specific allocations. This means we can ask for any amount we want, whether it’s RM7 billion or RM8 billion.” – September 30, 2019.