KOTA KINABALU: The federal government's RM16 billion allocations for Sabah this year is going into the development of schools, security and infrastructure projects.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the amount was significant as it is being channeled for the people's benefit.
The breakdown of the sum is as follows: to manage federal agencies (RM7.9 billion); state allocation including those Article 112D of the Federal Constitution (RM1.5 billion); and development (RM6.6 billion).
"When I announced during the Kaamatan festival that up to RM16 billion in annual allocation is being channeled (to Sabah), there were elected representatives and members of parliament from the unity government who questioned it.
"Who is going to pay for school buildings and teachers? Who will guard after the borders? Who will fix the roads?" he said, adding these allocations were included in Sabah's allocation this year.
Anwar said all lawmakers should mind their manners and prioritise the people's interest instead of only thinking about themselves.
The PKR president said it was important for all MPs in the unity government to respect each other and urged them to "act like friends" instead of attacking him about development matters.
Anwar, who is Finance Minister, disclosed that the federal government collected a total of RM10.2 billion revenue from Sabah last year.
He said the revenue comprises the five per cent petroleum cash payment (RM1.7 billion); income tax collection (RM7.2 billion) ; customs and excise duty (RM0.7 billion); and domestic taxes (RM0.6 billion).
He added it is the right thing to do to fulfil the rights of the people of Sabah people according to the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
In this regard, Anwar said that the current government had done better in this effort than previous administrations in the past 10 years.
"Be appreciative a bit, if you don't say 'thank you', it is okay. I do not need it. But what you need to do, is to accept the fact and discuss it to get more. No problem.
"As for the Article 112D, the discussion is still ongoing to increase the amount," he said, the matter is subject to the current fiscal situation.
Article 112D is related to the review of special grants to the state of Sabah and Sarawak.