Kota kinabalu: The recent court ruling affirming Sabah’s entitlement to 40 per cent of federal revenue collected from the state needs to be thoroughly studied to ensure a full understanding of the mechanisms involved and to avoid any complications in the future. MADANI government spokesperson Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said this step is crucial to safeguard Sabah’s rights as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and to ensure that any decisions taken by the Cabinet on the matter comply with the Federal Constitution.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the 109-page written judgment was released and is currently being examined by the Attorney General’s Chambers. Fahmi emphasized the importance of a careful study of the judgment to fully understand the overall mechanisms and prevent any irregularities or actions that could contradict the Constitution. He raised concerns regarding the procedures if the stipulated time frame of 180 days is exceeded, noting that the current Sabah government functions as an interim administration, which limits its ability to make policy decisions with financial implications.
Fahmi, who also serves as the Communications Minister, addressed reporters after participating in the ‘Hari Bersama Komuniti’ and Youth Engagement programme at the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI) in Kampung Kopimpinan, Putatan. The event was also attended by Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa.
The Kota Kinabalu High Court, in its ruling on October 17, directed the federal government to conduct a review with Sabah to determine the state’s 40 per cent entitlement for each financial year from 1974 to 2021. The court mandated that the review process begin within 90 days and be completed within 180 days. In response, the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Presidential Council issued a joint statement urging the Federal Government not to appeal against the ruling.
Fahmi expressed confidence that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will provide a comprehensive assessment of the issue during his working visit to Kota Kinabalu. He also reaffirmed the MADANI Government’s commitment to defending Sabah’s rights and ensuring justice for its people, highlighting the administration’s achievements in fulfilling and resolving claims under MA63 and increasing interim payments to Sabah.