National Kamaatan: Will Musa Ask for 20% Oil Payment? - Dr. Jeffrey

KOTA KINABALU - “The  question on everyone’s lips is will CM Musa pop the question and ask for 20% oil cash payment for Sabah when Musa and Sabah hosts the National Kamaatan celebrations in Keningau this Saturday” said Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, Sabah STAR Chief, commenting on the intensive on-going preparations in Keningau for the National Kamaatan celebrations.

Musa’s Sarawak counterpart, Tan Sri Adenan, had set the precedent and tone by asking the same question for the hike in Sarawak’s oil and gas payment at the National Gawai celebrations in Miri, Sarawak, last week.

Najib surprised everyone by replying that the federal government will give utmost consideration to Sarawak's request for higher oil and gas royalties.

While it may be surprising to many, Najib’s stand is not that surprising given his more compromising stand on some of the issues affecting Sabah and Sarawak.   For one, the biggest feather in his cap was the establishment of the RCI on Sabah illegal immigrants contrary to the views of many Sabah Umno leaders who did not want the RCI as it could lead to revelations of Sabah Umno’s involvement in the recruitment of these illegals as Umno members and voters for hire.

Further, the PM understood the importance and kingmakers’ role of Sabah and Sarawak by appointing 11 Ministers and 10 Deputies in his Cabinet.   He may even go further in his next Cabinet re-shuffle by appointing more Ministers and a 2nd DPM from Sabah or Sarawak.

If Musa does ask the question especially when the national RTM TV cameras are focused on him, it will lend and repair some of his credibility since he has said that Sabah had been asking for the increase since 2008 although he forgot that he reported in 2013 that there was no urgency in seeking a review of the oil hike.

Will Musa adopt the same patriotism as Tan Sri Adenan on the oil issue and ask for a hike in the oil payment this Saturday?

On the other hand, there are some rumours that PM Najib will decline to attend the celebrations at the last minute and avoid complications to his standing and position as incumbent President of Umno by also agreeing to review Sabah’s request for higher oil payment.  Najib’s more liberal and compromising stand on Sabah and Sarawak had not won him many friends in Umno while his detractors including a past PM had asked for Najib to stand down as PM.

Whatever the consequences, the stage is now set for a showdown between Najib and Musa.  Who will chicken out and who will emerge as the hero for the day?

• No urgency for oil review