(Sept 23): The Sabah Budget 2016 should include securing the 40% in entitlement of the net revenue Putrajaya collected from the state as well as federal allocations for autonomy, State Reform Party (STAR) Sabah chief Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said today.

The Bingkor assemblyman said that the federal government owed Sabah "more than RM100 billion excluding interest" in arrears accumulated and due since 1975.

"There is no dispute that the 40% net revenue is Sabah’s legal entitlement under the Tenth Schedule of the Federal Constitution," Kitingan said in a statement.

"It was in fact paid for from 1969 to 1973 with the last payment on January 1, 1974 (for 1973) in the sum of RM26.7 million, a progressive increase of 7.5% annually from 1969’s RM20 million."

He said Sabah was also entitled to 10% export duty on petroleum and gas exported from the state, and estimated it to be worth RM2.2 billion based on 2014 figures.

Kitingan also urged Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman to ask for "unfulfilled promises" from Putrajaya, namely RM1 billion for repairs of road slopes since 2009, RM2 billion for road repairs and another RM700 million for upgrading 62 bridges.

He said the road slope repairs and road repairs were urgent, as the Sabah government had incurred an estimated loss of over RM2.55 billion due to landslides, while the bad road conditions had caused accidents and fatalities.

"For new development, Musa should ask for RM2.5 billion for Phase I of Kota Kinabalu Monorail System and another RM900 million allocation for the much needed six overhead interchanges in Kota Kinabalu that will help reduce traffic congestion and make Kota Kinabalu a more liveable city and more traffic friendly for tourists.

"RM2.5 billion for KK’s monorail is not a lot given that the federal government has spent RM36 billion for the ongoing LRT main lines with another RM32 billion allocated for 2 additional LRT lines in Greater Klang Valley in Budget 2015," said Kitingan.

He said that Musa should also ask for allocations for the autonomy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had promised to grant the state.

"Whether Sabah will have a record-breaking Budget 2016 will be known on November 20 when Musa tables the 2016 Budget at the state assembly.

"All will be known whether Sabah leaders including CM Musa are brave to stand up for Sabah and insist on the 40% entitlement or are fearful of having health problems and to be replaced by a new CM on November 21 by PM Najib," said Kitingan – The Malaysian Insider