KOTA KINABALU, SEPT 12 – The Federal Government has agreed to increase the interim special grant rate for Sabah and Sarawak from RM300 million to RM600 million from next year, said Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
He said the matter was announced by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today when he chaired the Meeting of the Action Council for the Implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MTPMA63) which lasted for over two hours and was also attended by the Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor; and the Premier of Sarawak, Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Fadillah, who is also the Chairman of the MTPMA63 Technical Committee, said that although the rate is reviewed every five years but the Prime Minister has decided to increase the special grant earlier.
“This will start in 2025. It should have been announced during the Budget but the Prime Minister announced it in this meeting,” he told reporters after attending the meeting which took place at the Sabah International Convention Center (SICC).
Fadillah said the announcement only involved interim payments because the formula for special grants to Sabah and Sarawak had not been finalized.
He also said there were four issues yet to be decided at today’s meeting including stamp duty, continental shelf and royalties.
In addition, he said the meeting agreed to categorize things agree to disagree brought to the highest level to be discussed between the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister of Sabah and the Premier of Sarawak.
Fadillah said his side would update the results of the discussions related to the issue to the Prime Minister within three months. – Named
