Kota Kinabalu: Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the formation of the new Sabah Cabinet — made up of leaders from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) — was driven solely by the need to safeguard political stability in the State.
He said maintaining a cohesive coalition is crucial for the Government to operate smoothly and to ensure that development efforts can be carried out effectively.
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“Without political stability, we will always be trapped in power struggles. We want to focus on work — on developing the State and helping the people,” he said at his office, after clocking in to begin his duty, Wednesday.
Masidi said the Cabinet has only 10 ministerial positions, apart from the Chief Minister, which makes it impossible to appoint everyone qualified.
“That is a matter of good fortune. What is important is that everyone entrusted with responsibility — whether ministers, assistant ministers, or backbench government assemblymen — work hard for the people,” he said.
Asked about BN’s inclusion in the state administration, Masidi said the cooperation was not about favouring any particular party, but about ensuring a stable government.
“We must look at the larger picture — and the larger picture is Sabah.
“Sometimes difficult decisions have to be made to ensure a stable administration,” he said. Masidi urged all leaders to stop treating political differences as obstacles to serving the people.
“Everything we do will be held to account. Our priority is to fulfil the mandate of the people and improve their lives,” he said.
On the absence of a Chinese representative in the new Cabinet, Masidi clarified that this was the result of the election outcome, not a deliberate exclusion. He said no
Chinese leaders — particularly from DAP — won seats, making it difficult to appoint a minister from the community.
“This is not a situation we wanted. But Sabah has always been open and inclusive. Even if a minister is not Chinese, his duties and responsibilities cover all communities,” he said.
Masidi reiterated that the State Government remains committed to safeguarding the interests of all Sabahans, regardless of ethnicity or political background.
Masidi also commented on the post-election political climate, reminding all elected representatives that their primary responsibility is to ensure Sabah remains stable and continues to progress.
“If we spend too much time politicking, our focus on developing the State will be neglected. We were elected to serve, not to continue political battles,” he said.
Masidi said the priority now is good governance and unity, noting that Sabah can only move forward if leaders commit to cooperation and stability.
On the 40pc federal revenue entitlement, he said Sabah will remain firm in pursuing the return of long-overdue federal revenue entitlement, saying recent changes in national leadership have not weakened the State’s resolve.
The involvement of PH and BN leaders at the federal level does not alter Sabah’s commitment, as many of these leaders are Sabahans who share the same objective of reclaiming the State’s constitutional rights.
“Those leading from the State side are Sabahans. The notion that national parties are influencing our stance is not true.
“They, too, want to see the 40 per cent fully restored after decades of delay,” he said.
Masidi said the State will not consider any formula that deviates from Article 112C and the Tenth Schedule of the Federal Constitution, which clearly entitles Sabah to 40 per cent of all federal revenue collected from the State.
“I don’t believe any federal leader has disputed the 40 per cent entitlement. The Constitution is explicit and the court ruling affirms it. There is no room to bargain on constitutional guarantees.
“Regardless of the challenges, we must reach a settlement within the 90-day timeframe. This is now among our key priorities,” he said.
The High Court's decision essentially mandates that a review must be held to determine the exact amount owed to Sabah for the period from 1974, during which the mandatory constitutional reviews did not occur.
The court order on Oct 17 is being treated as a clear course of action that both governments are obligated to comply with.
