(Sept 10): A Sabah opposition leader has proposed that Datuk Seri Najib Razak set aside 50% of the development expenditure in Budget 2016 for Sabah and Sarawak, citing no such allocation was made available for the Borneo states this year.

Bingkor assemblyman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said RM50.5 billion was allocated for peninsular this year and Najib, who is also finance minister could not overlook development needed for Sabah and Sarawak.

"Budget 2016 will seriously test the prime minister’s sincerity towards his many promises to expedite development for Sabah and Sarawak as well as his 11th Malaysia Plan proposal to make Kuching and Kota Kinabalu as development hubs," he said in a statement.

Kitingan, who is also STAR Sabah chief said this in presenting his proposals in response to Najib’s call for suggestions for Budget 2016.

A vocal critic of Putrajaya, Kitingan said the budget may also jeopardise the support from Sabah and Sarawak which are his “fixed deposit” states and whose support are keeping his position as prime minister intact.

"Any allocation for development of less than 50% for the Borneo states will be seen as a failure of Najib and making a mockery of his promises," he added.

He also wants Putrajaya to be exempt Sabahans from paying the goods and service tax (GST) next year.

Kitingan said an allocation of RM2 billion should be set aside to be returned to Sabah as part of the 40% net revenue derived from the state which is legally payable under the 10th Schedule of the Federal Constitution.

He said Najib should also provide an appropriate budget for the state government to take over control of the education sector which will also be part of the handover of autonomy in education to Sabah as was promised to Sarawak.

He said Najib should also start implementation of the handover of autonomy of some initial federal departments to the Sabah government with allocations of appropriate budgets.

For instance, he said the Road Transport Department, Agriculture Department, Arts and Culture Department, Fisheries Department could be handed over to Sabah. – The Malaysian Insider