MEMBERS of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly have expressed strong confidence that the long-standing issue of Sabah’s 40 per cent share of state revenue can be resolved more swiftly, citing the close relationship between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor as a key enabler of smoother cooperation between the federal and state governments.
Datuk Seri Ghulamhaidar @ Yusof Khan Bahadar (GRS-Kawang) said the optimism was further strengthened by a recent High Court decision affirming Sabah’s constitutional right to the special grant, as highlighted by the Sabah Finance Minister during the tabling of the Sabah Budget 2026.
“I would also like to share my voice on the hope and confidence that the extraordinary leadership of the Right Honourable Sulaman (Hajiji), as well as his good relationship with Putrajaya, particularly with the Right Honourable Prime Minister, gives confidence to all of us that the issue of the 40 per cent state revenue entitlement will be easier to resolve.
“Moreover, the law has already provided a clear indication of the path towards a solution,” he said while debating the Sabah Supply Bill 2026 during the State Legislative Assembly sitting in Kota Kinabalu on Monday.
He added that the strong relationship between the two levels of government had effectively formed a ‘connecting bridge’ that enhances administrative and political coordination, thereby expediting efforts to formulate a mechanism for channelling Sabah’s rightful share.
Echoing similar confidence, Datuk Pengiran Saifuddin Pengiran Tahir Petra (GRS-Pantai Manis) stressed that the restoration of the 40 per cent entitlement is an economic necessity to ensure Sabah remains competitive amid an increasingly rapid phase of development.
“When this claim is fully realised, it will have a major impact on the state’s fiscal position and subsequently allow more allocations to be channelled towards people-centric development, infrastructure and public services,” he said.
He noted that implementation of the entitlement would significantly strengthen the state’s financial standing, enabling Sabah to plan long-term development in a more sustainable and effective manner.
Meanwhile, Justin Wong Yung Bin (Warisan-Sri Tanjong) said the struggle to reclaim Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue right should no longer be viewed through the lens of political rivalry, but instead requires a more mature and integrated collective approach.
He emphasised the importance of a bipartisan strategy to accelerate resolution of the issue, noting that both government and opposition lawmakers are aligned in the view that the agenda must be pursued collectively in the interest of the state.
“When it comes to Sabah’s interests, especially considering the significant impact that the acquisition of this 40 per cent will bring to the state, I am of the view that the time has come for us to eliminate the mentality of party-based competition,” he said.
Justin added that state election outcomes and popular voting patterns clearly demonstrate that the restoration of rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 is not a partisan issue, but a collective demand of the Sabah people as a whole. - December 16, 2025
