KUCHING: The federal government has been urged to be transparent on the formula that was agreed to with the Sarawak and Sabah governments on the special grants for both states.
Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii said while he welcomes the increase of the grant to RM300 million, the most important is a clear and set formula to ensure the increase in the special grants will be clear and sustainable.
“The quantum of the Special Grants under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution was before this never revised since 1969 by previous governments even when it was clearly stated in the constitution that every five years there will be a revision.
“However, it was then revised and doubled by the Pakatan Harapan government in 2019 within view of further increments in the coming years,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.
He added that a clear and transparent formula is important to ensure the figure and amount given does not go up and down based merely on political considerations, but rather on a proper equitable structure and formula to ensure it is sustainable.
“For Sabah it is rather clear with “40 per cent of federal collection in Sabah to be returned” stated in the constitution, but for Sarawak, it is not explicitly stated in the constitution.
“That is why I hope that the government will take the extra necessary step to be transparent about the formula especially for Sarawak as this involves significant public interest and the need for us to be treated equitably under the MA63,” he added.
