Anwar to chair MA63 meeting on Sabah’s 40pc revenue claim, says Hajiji 

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 — Sabah’s claim for 40 per cent of its net revenue will be among the issues discussed at a Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) meeting to be chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim this Friday.

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said Sabah would host the meeting, which would also discuss outstanding claims and issues under MA63, Sinar Harian reported.

He said this after a working visit to the Kunak Lipids Sdn Bhd Phytonutrient Extraction Plant in Kunak today.

Hajiji said the Sabah government was grateful to Anwar, as nine matters under MA63 had been resolved during his administration, including the devolution of certain powers to Sabah.

“Previously there were four matters, so a total of 13 (matters) have been resolved. However, there are still other matters, including the 40 per cent payment,” he said.

Hajiji said the federal government had agreed to Sabah’s claim for the 40 per cent payment, but several technical issues remained to be resolved.

“They have agreed but there are still some issues, perhaps technical issues, that have been raised. This is a normal process because there is an appeal process, but it does not affect the decision for us to receive the 40 per cent payment,” he said.

He said unresolved matters would be raised again for consideration at subsequent MA63 meetings or negotiations.

In a separate development, Hajiji welcomed progress on the Kunak Lipids Sdn Bhd Phytonutrient Extraction Plant, which is nearing completion and is expected to begin producing vitamin E before the end of the year.

He said the plant represented a positive development and a downstream business for Sawit Kinabalu Group, using palm-based materials in its production.

“I am very pleased to hear the briefing from Sawit Kinabalu and the company working with Sawit Kinabalu that the plant built to produce vitamin E is almost completed and will produce vitamin E before the end of the year,” he said.

Hajiji said the project was believed to be the first of its kind in Malaysia and could help increase revenue for Sawit Kinabalu and its partner company.