Kota Kinabalu: The Federal Government can’t mix up ordinary Federal spending with its constitutional obligation to Sabah, said former Sabah Law Society (SLS) President Datuk Roger Chin.
“Money spent on schools, hospitals, roads or security is part of the Federal Government’s duty to all Malaysians under the Federal system – it is not part of the 40pc Special Grant owed specifically to Sabah,” he said in a statement, Monday, in response to the Prime Minister’s recent remarks on the State’s 40pc entitlement which he described as a serious misunderstanding of the issue.
Chin pointed out that the High Court ruling in October was clear: the 40pc entitlement is a constitutional right, not a matter for negotiation.
It represents 40pc of the net Federal revenue derived from Sabah, rather than how much Putrajaya chooses to spend in the State.
He argued that the Prime Minister’s claim that RM10 billion was collected from Sabah while RM17 billion was “given back” conflates two separate accounts – Federal expenditure and constitutional repayment.
“That comparison is meaningless unless the Government publishes a clear breakdown showing how much was collected from Sabah, how much was returned under Article 112C and how much was spent on ordinary Federal functions,” Chin said.
Until those figures are disclosed, he stressed, no one can truthfully claim that Sabah has received “more than it gave.”
Chin emphasised that the Constitution is about obligation, transparency and respect for the promises that built Malaysia, not generosity.
He also criticised the Prime Minister’s call for Sabahans to “come with facts and figures” to discuss the 40pc entitlement, calling it patronising.
“How can Sabahans present figures when the Federal Government itself refuses to release the data?” he questioned.
“Putrajaya should disclose the revenue, show the deductions and provide the payments. Until that happens, telling Sabahans to ‘come with facts’ is nothing more than mocking the very ignorance the Federal Government has deliberately imposed for its own convenience and gain,” added Chin.
The comments come amid ongoing debate over Sabah’s fiscal rights, with local leaders repeatedly urging Putrajaya to honour its constitutional obligations.
