Madius proposes new national councils for economic coordination

Borneo Post

14 hours ago

Madius
KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 6): Tuaran Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau has urged the Federal Government to promptly fulfil Sabah's constitutional right to 40 per cent of net revenue collected from the state, while also calling for the establishment of three new national councils to strengthen coordination in critical economic sectors.
Debating the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday, Madius stressed that the long-overdue revenue entitlement must be honoured in accordance with Article 112C and the Tenth Schedule of the Federal Constitution.
'Negotiations were already concluded in 1963 during the formation of Malaysia. As the generation entrusted with the legacy of the Malaysia Agreement 1963, we must now implement what was agreed. Why the delay?' he questioned.
The UPKO Honorary President emphasised that this was not a new demand, but a constitutional right that remains unfulfilled, further warning that Sabahans must no longer be made to bear the brunt of poverty due to the continued failure to implement what is lawfully theirs.
He noted that more than 80 per cent of the nation's RM1.3 trillion debt has been spent in Peninsular Malaysia, while Sabah, which contributes substantially to national revenue, continues to receive a disproportionate share of allocations.
'This disparity hampers Sabah's ability to develop key sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, livestock and basic infrastructure,' he said.
'If Sabah were given back the 40 per cent revenue as stated in the Constitution, we wouldn't have to keep begging for federal funds to build roads, hospitals, or develop our industries,' Madius added.
He also cautioned that Malaysia's aspiration to become the world's 30th largest economy would remain a dream if the constitutional rights of Sabah continue to be sidelined.
'If Sabah prospers, Malaysia prospers. But if Sabah's rights continue to be denied, it is not only unjust, it also undermines the very foundation upon which Malaysia was formed.
'What we need is not more negotiations, but the political will to implement what is already enshrined in the Constitution, the highest law of the land,' he said.
In the same debate, Madius also called for the immediate establishment of three national bodies – the National Agriculture Council, the National Fisheries Council and the National Livestock Council – to enhance coordination and policy coherence between the federal and state governments.
He said the creation of these councils is crucial to align legislation, strategy, budgets and programme implementation, particularly in light of Sabah's autonomy in these sectors as guaranteed by the Federal Constitution and the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
'The aim is to close the development gap between regions, especially for Sabah, which has immense potential but remains left behind due to poor policy alignment and lack of federal support,' he stated.
Citing examples, Madius said Sabah, despite being the largest fish producer in Malaysia contributing 25 per cent to national output, has only one fish landing facility built using state funds.
'In contrast, there are 42 such facilities in Peninsular Malaysia, five in Sarawak and one in Labuan, all developed by federal agencies such as the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM). Just imagine Sabah's potential if we received the proper budgetary support,' he remarked.
In the livestock sector, Sabah has already achieved self-sufficiency in eggs and fresh milk but remains low in ruminant meat production.
'With vast and suitable land resources, Sabah could increase output significantly if strategic support and adequate funding are provided,' he said.
Touching on agriculture, he noted that rice production in Sabah continues to lag due to inadequate irrigation systems, outdated drainage infrastructure, and a lack of processing facilities, all contributing to lower productivity compared to the Peninsula.
Madius further reminded the Dewan Rakyat that the proposal to establish these three national councils had been included in Pakatan Harapan's 15th General Election manifesto, and urged the government to now honour that commitment.
'This is the right time for the government to act on this promise, to ensure national food security and promote equitable prosperity for all regions,' he said.