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KUCHING, Aug 13: The Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) Technical Committee has agreed to set a period of one year to finalise the formula for the special grant of Federal revenue to the State governments in Borneo, as stipulated in the Federal Constitution.
According to a TVS news report, MA63 Implementation Action Council member Datuk Ewon Benedick stated that discussions in the Cabinet have confirmed some of the MA63 implementation and follow-up discussions to finalise other related matters.
“Among them is the amendment to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) Bill that would allow representatives from the state governments of Sabah and Sarawak to be appointed as members of the Board and thus have access to the types of Federal revenue and the amount of revenue collected from Sabah,” he said, as quoted.
On June 8, the Bill was tabled for its first reading, and the second reading, which the Dewan Rakyat should have passed on June 15, was postponed until the next session.
Ewon, who is also Penampang MP and Kadamaian assemblyman, mentioned that a new gazette regarding special grants to Sabah would be issued this year, which would supersede last year’s gazette.
“I carry this trust and responsibility as a Unity Government Cabinet member, as UPKO (United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation) president and as a representative of the people of Sabah. I have been part of all the discussions and negotiations so far,” he added. — DayakDaily
