KOTA KINABALU: Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) is disappointed the 2022 National Budget made no mention of the special financial provisions for Sabah.
STAR President, Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said Sabah’s rights to 40 per cent of the net revenue derived by the Federal in the State was still denied.
“There were also no provisions for other payments such as 10 per cent tax on oil or the 10 per cent import duties on petroleum products other than the RM 120 million,” he said in a statement here yesterday.
Kitingan, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister, said while the allocations for the development funds for Sabah have been increased, the increase is insufficient and unfair.
“It could have been at least RM10 billion in view of the need to stimulate the Borneo economy to match up Indonesia’s aggressive spending in Kalimantan,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that the budget is inclusive and comprehensive, taking into account the welfare of the people, in line with the vision of ‘Keluarga Malaysia’.
Kitingan said he is aware that the primary goal of the budget is to stimulate the economy, which has been devastated by the pandemic, as well as to stimulate business activities.
“Overall, it is a good budget because it focuses on underdeveloped areas particularly in Sabah and Sarawak.
“But it could have been a lot better,” he said.
