Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) welcomed the Federal Government’s decision not to appeal the recent Kota Kinabalu High Court ruling on Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement, calling it an affirmation of the State’s long - overdue constitutional right.
Sabah BN Chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said the decision to begin negotiations immediately marked a step towards restoring what he described as “a constitutional obligation left unfulfilled for decades.”
“The 40 per cent provision is not a political concession, it is a binding constitutional commitment embedded in the Federal Constitution since the formation of Malaysia in 1963,” he said in a statement.
He said administrative lapses and inconsistencies since 1974 have not only reflected technical failings but also undermined the very principles of federalism that define Sabah’s relationship with the Federation.
“In any modern legal jurisdiction, a constitutional right cannot be delayed, diluted, or disregarded without compelling and proportionate justification,” Bung said.
He stressed that any negotiations moving forward must be transparent, based on verified financial data and completely free from political manoeuvring.
“Sabah will no longer accept discussions that lead nowhere.
“A constitutional right is not a bargaining chip, it must be honoured exactly as written,” he said.
Bung said Sabah BN would closely monitor every stage of the negotiation process to ensure Sabah’s constitutional entitlement is fully restored.
“The Federal Government’s duty is clear and indivisible, restore Sabah’s entitlement without delay. This is not a political gimmick; it is a demand for constitutional justice,” he said.
He also reaffirmed that Sabah BN’s firm stance that the 40 per cent revenue entitlement is Sabah’s right.
DAP Sabah Chairman Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe said the move marked a significant step forward towards ensuring fair fiscal treatment for Sabah within the Federation.
“The struggle for Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement has been a long and collective effort by many Sabahans who believe in equality and fairness between the Federal and State Governments,” he said in a statement.
Phoong recalled that in June 2022, Pakatan Harapan Sabah, including Members of Parliament and State Assembly representatives from DAP such as himself, Chan Foong Hin, Vivian Wong and Jannie Lasimbang, together with their PH colleagues, initiated the judicial review process to pursue the case.
He said following the formation of the Madani Government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in late 2022, DAP Sabah opted to avoid any conflict of interest and instead engaged in internal negotiations through official government channels to pursue the matter constructively.
“DAP Sabah has consistently supported the Sabah Law Society (SLS) throughout its legal pursuit, attending hearings and showing solidarity. We also publicly urged the Federal Government not to appeal the ruling, in line with the true spirit of MA63,” he said.
Phoong added that DAP Sabah’s leadership had unanimously resolved to urge the Federal Government to respect the ruling — a resolution later adopted by the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) and raised by DAP’s five Federal Ministers in the Cabinet.
He expressed appreciation to DAP Secretary - General Anthony Loke and National Chairman Gobind Singh Deo for their persistent efforts on the matter.
He said Sabah DAP would continue advocating for the full and transparent implementation of the 40 per cent revenue entitlement.
