RELATIONS between Sabah and Putrajaya must be continually strengthened through a harmonious and constructive approach to ensure that development efforts in the state proceed effectively, including the resolution of outstanding matters under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), caretaker Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has said.
Hajiji stressed that antagonistic posturing towards the federal government would only set Sabah back, while cooperation and calm, solutions-focused dialogue are essential to sustaining progress.
On the long-standing issue of Sabah’s claim to 40 per cent of federal revenue collected in the state, Hajiji revealed that bilateral discussions had already begun, following a meeting between the state and federal governments last Monday.
“We hope that from there, we will start looking for a payment formula for the state of Sabah and that the revenue will be used to develop Sabah,” he said in an exclusive interview with Bernama at his official residence in Sri Gaya.
While acknowledging that some political figures in Sabah prefer a confrontational stance with Putrajaya, Hajiji said he rejects such tactics, arguing that they do little to advance the state’s overall development.
“I don’t want to use that approach (confrontation). If we fight, what’s the point? There are some leaders in Sabah who like confrontation because maybe their goal is to get support from the people of Sabah.
“We can’t take that approach and I can’t do that because for me we must harmonise the situation, because this is our country,” he said.
Hajiji noted that Sabah has gained much from maintaining close cooperation with the federal government, which has approved numerous development proposals during his tenure. He said this collaborative spirit has yielded consensus in negotiations and tangible outcomes.
Among the most significant achievements, he said, was the Commercial Cooperation Agreement signed between the Sabah government and Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) in December 2021, which opened a new chapter in the state’s oil and gas development.
“What I have done in these five years, although not publicised, we have achieved many successes. This needs to continue. State and federal relations must be friendly and close so that we can further develop Sabah in the future,” he said.
Under his administration, Sabah secured RM320.25 million in federal financial assistance to expedite short-term measures to address the state’s water crisis. The funding covers six programmes comprising 20 projects across districts including Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran, Putatan, Papar, Beaufort, Keningau, Tawau, Lahad Datu and Sandakan.
Sabah is also working with Putrajaya on various initiatives to improve the state’s electricity supply, aligned with the regulatory framework and targets set out in the Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040.
Moreover, the state has benefited from a doubling of interim special grants to RM600 million beginning this year and continues to receive the largest development allocation in the federal budget. - November 23, 2025
