KOTA KINABALU: Incidences of poverty in Sabah could have been effectively dealt with if its 40 per cent share of net revenue derived from the state was restored, said Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Information Chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
He said Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli’s revelation on the high poverty rate in Sabah indicates that the Central Government knows what needs to be done for the State and that sufficient funds and allocation are key.
As such Joniston said the Central Government should speed up the restoration of Sabah’s rights to the 40 per cent share of the state’s net revenue and control over its oil and gas resources.
“The State Government will strive for the sake of the people, but we need to be on the same page with the Federal Government on this.
“By indicating they know what it takes to eradicate poverty in Sabah, I believe it is only right for the Federal Hovernment to restore the state rights.
“By depriving the state of what is rightly ours, Sabah will continue to struggle to improve the people’s livelihood, get adequate basic amenities, infrastructure and development,” he said in a statement today.
Joniston said the State Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has come up with a comprehensive masterplan aimed at enhancing the wellbeing of the people in which its fruition may require some time.
In its commitment to the “Sabah Maju Jaya” slogan, Joniston said the GRS-PH Plus State Government has consistently pursued efforts to reduce and ultimately eradicate poverty in the state.
Citing an example, he said the GRS-PH Plus Government has approved 20 Rumah Mesra SMJ houses to qualified recipients for each constituency to uplift the living standard of needy rural folks, a commitment which no other previous state government has ever made.
He further said that under the present Government, the allocation for State Assemblymen has increased from RM2 million to RM3 million.
This significant increase, he added, addresses the pressing needs of rural communities, marking another unprecedented commitment by the State Government.
Poverty has been a perennial issue for Sabah and a constant topic used by the opposition to bait for public sentiments and support.
Joniston noted that in the past, Sabah had a Federal minister in charge of rural development for many years, but the problem persisted.
“Let’s not point fingers as to who is at fault for the perennial poverty problem in Sabah but work together to find a solution to it,” said Bangkuai, who is Kiulu Assemblyman and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Information Chief.
On Thursday, Rafizi revealed in Parliament that hardcore poverty in Sabah was six times the national average and noted the rate of hardcore poverty in Sabah stands at 1.2 per cent, in contrast to the national rate of 0.2 per cent.
