Kota kinabalu: Sabah’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) are not a political slogan nor do they belong to any single party; they belong to every Sabahan, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs), Datuk Mustapha Sakmud. He stressed that MA63 is a legitimate document that forms the foundation of the Federation of Malaysia, establishing Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners in a sovereign nation.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mustapha highlighted that one of the most critical components of MA63 for Sabahans is the 40 per cent entitlement from federal net revenue collected in Sabah, as provided under Articles 112C and 112D of the Federal Constitution. For years, no concrete action was taken to settle these arrears. However, the current Madani government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has initiated steps to return what is rightfully Sabah’s, in line with MA63 provisions.

Mustapha elaborated that data from agencies such as the Inland Revenue Board and the Royal Malaysian Customs Department shows encouraging progress in determining the exact amount of Sabah’s 40 per cent entitlement. He noted that the formation of a special committee to review revenue data from federal departments in Sabah demonstrates the Federal Government’s seriousness and commitment to handling the matter transparently and responsibly.

When questioned about claims that the Federal Government has filed a notice of motion to stay the court’s ruling on Sabah’s 40 per cent special grant claim, Mustapha stated he had not received any information and would issue a statement once he has accurate details. “I have heard about it, but I do not have the full picture yet. We will ask the Finance Ministry for a detailed report,” he said.