Kota Kinabalu: The order to stay the execution of the judgment regarding the review and payment of the special grant entitlement to Sabah should be viewed as an opportunity to refine the calculations more thoroughly, transparently and with integrity.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Mustapha Sakmud (
pic) said the process involves complex assessments spanning a long period, requiring detailed examination of financial data and historical records.
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In this regard, he stressed that the Court of Appeal’s decision to allow the Federal Government’s application for a stay should not be used as a reason to delay ongoing efforts to resolve the matter.
“I urge the Secretary-General of the Treasury and the Sabah State Secretary to continue with the calculation process, data verification and technical negotiations that are already underway.
“The momentum must not be halted but strengthened so that a fair and accurate formula and payment amount can be finalised as soon as possible,” he said in a statement today.
On Oct 17 last year, the Kota Kinabalu High Court ruled that the Federal Government had acted unlawfully and beyond its constitutional authority by failing to fulfil Sabah’s right to 40 per cent of federal revenue from 1974 to 2021.
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Mustapha said the position aligns with the recommendation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who has called for the issue to be resolved comprehensively in line with the Federal Constitution of Malaysia and the principles of justice for Sabah.
He added that the Federal Government remains committed to ensuring Sabah’s rights are implemented responsibly, based on facts and in close cooperation with the state government.
At the same time, Mustapha urged all parties to consider the country’s fiscal position amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
“The priority now is to minimise the impact of the crisis while ensuring the welfare of the people continues to be safeguarded,” he said.
