OIL royalty, cost of living and the pledge to honour the Malaysian Agreement 1963 (MA63) continue to be sources of unhappiness for Sabahans as Pakatan Harapan hits its 100-day milestone in Putrajaya.

For many, the most glaring failure is the pledge to raise Sabah’s oil royalty from 5% to 20%, with Putrajaya being accused of dragging its feet on the matter.

Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku President-cum-MA63 activist Jeffrey Kitingan said that PH was just playing up the matter on whether the payment should be based on gross production or profit.

“Obviously, the calculation of royalty should be based on gross production, but (Prime Minister) Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali said the payment would be based on profit.

“What does this tell you? They are coming up with their own interpretation on the matter, when the whole world has a direct definition of what royalty really means,” he told The Malaysian Insight recently.

Jeffrey said based on how PH was treating the matter, it appeared almost futile for Sabahans to compel it to honour the MA63.

“We might as well say goodbye to all the election pledges,” he said.

PH unveiled its “new deal” election manifesto ahead of the 14th general election, promising to honour the MA63 and raise the oil royalty to 20%.

To this day, none of these pledges had materialised, he said.

Even the creation of a Health and People’s Wellbeing Ministry, Education and Innovation Ministry and Legal and Native Affairs Ministry, as part of the process towards the devolution of federal power, would depend on funds from the oil royalty and 50% revenue-sharing.

“So, how can these ministries operate if there is no money to carry out activities?” Jeffrey said.

A Parti Bersatu Sabah assemblyman who requested anonymity said the only thing the PH government had achieved so far harp on the previous Barisan Nasional administration.

“There is nothing bad about PH abolishing the goods and services tax but do you see the prices of food in restaurants going down? No,” he said.

“The only thing it achieved success and popularity with is getting back at its political enemies. Just look at how the 1Malaysia Development Bhd issue is being blown out of proportion.”

G25 member Johan Ariffin, meanwhile, said the government was still getting used to things and likened its situation to a busting dam.

“If you mention 60 years, its like a dam being built, and suddenly, you let go of the water and the whole area is flooded. You will see people struggling to find their footing and more… or trying to make use of this newfound freedom,” he said.

However, for the man on the street, it’s the bread-and-butter issues that come into play in critiquing PH.

Norhamzah Jamal, a hotel worker, said he knew PH would never deliver on its promises the moment it began claiming it would bring down the price of fuel to RM1.50 before GE14.

“I don’t think this has ever happened,” he said.

Graphic designer Priscilla Anabelle, however, said she wanted Putrajaya to continue revealing all the wrongdoings of the previous government.

“I want to know why Malaysia is in as bad as a position as it is now. Is it because BN leaders gambled away our monies and future?” – August 17, 2018.