KOTA KINABALU: Sabahans should be thankful for what the federal government is doing for them instead of complaining all the way, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He said over this one year, the federal government has allocated over RM16bil in development funds for the state, an amount more than previous years.

“So be a bit more thankful. Don’t just (marah-marah) get angry,” he said when speaking to the crowd at the Hawkers and Traders carnival in Buhavan Square Donggongon, Penampang near here, Thursday (Dec 7).

Anwar said what was important was to find ways to manage the funds given and to make sure that they are used for the purpose they were meant for.

He said people should not listen to talks of some politicians who claim that the allocations given to Sabah were so little that even a small island like Penang got more.

“Don’t listen to these factless talks, they follow their own sentiments and sometimes twist their words for their own gains,” he said.

Anwar assured the people that Sabah rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 were being worked on, and in fact has achieved more than previous years.