Shafie Apdal, a major figure in Sabah Umno, says Pakatan Rakyat's promise to increase Sabah's oil royalty receipts to 20 percent should be rejected because the state should share its wealth.

NONE "I come from Sabah (and I am a) Malaysian citizen. Who doesn't want (20 percent oil royalty)? But we are aware (and) know that we must share," said Shafie when met at a function in Kuala Lumpur today.

Of late, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has been leading Pakatan's charge in Sabah, with the 20 percent royalty promise as the centrepiece of its election campaign.

Sabah Pakatan's shadow budget has also provided a preview as to how the extra funds derived from oil royalty could be spent to help Sabah - the most impoverished state in the country.

For Shafie, Pakatan and Anwar's campaign strategy are an attempt to cause a split between Sabah and the rest of Malaysia.

"Anwar goes to Sabah and claims that if Pakatan rules, he will provide 20 percent oil royalty.

"If you want to fish for votes, please don't cause a rift among the people," he said.

Mum on RM40m donation

On the controversy over the RM40 million donation for Sabah Umno, Shafie declined to comment on the matter in detail.

"I don't have to comment. This is the work of the opposition," he said.

The controversy was sparked by an investigation by Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on Malaysian businessman Michael Chia on August 2008.

Chia was reportedly quizzed for attempting to carry Singaporean currency worth RM40 million out of Hong Kong. ICAC has refused Malaysiakini's request for comments.

On Oct 11, de facto Law Minister Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz told Parliament that Chia was not arrested by the ICAC and that the funds were in fact " donations " for Sabah Umno.

Despite the shadowy nature of the case and the murky details, Nazri claimed that there was nothing wrong with it, while Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak claimed that there was no basis to claim that the money was smuggled.