KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan Sabah will not stop pursuing the 40% net revenue owed by the Federal Government to Sabah, as stipulated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

Warisan Treasurer-General Terrence Siambun said it was the absolute right of Sabah to pursue the matter, but the government will apply a different approach to obtain it.

He said they would not emulate approaches used by parties such as the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and its allies in Gabungan Sabah (GS).

“This 40% entitlement to Sabah had been agreed upon by all during the formative years of the Federation of Malaysia and was put into an agreement,” he said in a statement Wednesday.

“Hence there is no question on this issue. We will pursue this matter but in a different and more intelligent approach compared with what others has in mind,” Siambun said.

He was commenting on a statement by SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee, reminding Parti Warisan Sabah deputy president, Darell Leiking on the 40% net revenue owed to the state government.

He pointed out that SAPP failed to topple Sabah Barisan Nasional in the last three elections and therefore, it was illogical for Warisan to ‘listen to instructions’ from a party whose leader could not even secure a position in the State Assembly.

“SAPP should not be telling Warisan when and how to pursue the matter,” Siambun stated.

He said as founding partner of the Federation of Malaysia, Sabah has to be practical in this matter, and added that it was clear that Sarawak’s approach and strategies in regaining the State’s rights, while maintaining a good relationship with the Federal Government was much more acceptable compared to any gung-ho approach.”

Siambun said Leiking was appointed by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as a minister in the federal level, so there was no reason for Yong to be worried about Sabah’s rights.

“MA63 or Sabah’s rights issues are close to his (Leiking’s) heart. Just let him do his job as a federal minister for the good of all Malaysians,” he said.

In the meantime, Siambun said it would be good if Yong could explain why he never pursued the 40% entitlement and MA63 issues when he was chief minister in the mid 90s.