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PressRelease-2012-Mr PM - Prove Your Concern For Sabah Sarawak - 23 Dec 2013
PressRelease-2012-Mr PM - Prove Your Concern For Sabah Sarawak - 23 Dec 2013
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Before irreparable damage is done to the Sabah economy and the daily lives of Sabahans and Sarawakians, the federal government need to seriously consider and implement exemption of Sabah and Sarawak from the recent price hikes as well as the coming price hikes and the GST. Already, Sabahans are complaining that GST will mean Gasak Sampai Tulang, nothing else is spared. There is every justification to exempt Sabah and Sarawak from such unwarranted price hikes and GST imposition. If the Prime Minister is sincere and caring of the welfare of Sabahans and Sarawakians, the exemption is only a nominal way of repaying the contributions of Sabah and Sarawak, both politically and financially. The Umno/BN federal government owes its current power and position in Putrajaya due to the seats contributed by Sabah and Sarawak BN. Without them, there would have been a new federal government and a new Prime Minister of Malaysia. Financially in 2012, RM17.88 billion in oil revenue were siphoned by Petronas from Sabah and another RM35 billion from Sarawak. In 2014, Sabah will contribute another RM26.6 billion to Petronas and the federal government and rising to RM50 billion in 2015/2016. Sarawak will contribute another RM45 billion in 2014 alone. Both Sabah and Sarawak are rich nations but their people are robbed of their wealth and being made to be the poorest and second poorest in Malaysia. Therefore, as a small gesture and token, Sabahans and Sarawakians deserve to be exempted from the recent hikes and the imposition of GST. If the federal government refuses to exempt Sabah and Sarawak from the GST, the federal government should return 40% of the net revenue earned from the GST to the Sabah and Sarawak governments in accordance with the Tenth Schedule of the Federal Constitution. And I strongly urge the Sabah and Sarawak governments to seek the return of this 40% net revenue from the GST collected added Dr. Jeffrey. With this 40% GST returned to Sabah and Sarawak, the Sabah and Sarawak governments should consider issuing GST exemption coupons to Sabahans and Sarawakians granting certain exemptions or deductions on GST to be collected from them. This will in a big way assist the people in Sabah and Sarawak in getting some relief from the burdensome and potentially devastating GST.