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Kota Kinabalu: Sabah is continuing negotiations with the Federal Government on its 40 per cent revenue entitlement despite ongoing court proceedings on the “lost years”, said Deputy Chief Minister II cum Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun (pic).

Masidi said the matter involves two separate components, namely the claim for arrears from 1974 to 2021 and the current entitlement, with the court case relating only to the “lost years” while negotiations on the current claim are ongoing.

“I don’t think so because it’s two separate issues altogether,” he said, adding that the State Government respects the Court of Appeal’s decision to grant a stay even though it had objected to the appeal.

He said Sabah had submitted its claim about two years ago and discussions are focused on how to calculate the 40 per cent entitlement, including determining which revenue streams should be included.

Masidi said no figures have been finalised and stressed that negotiations must not be open-ended, adding that the State hopes to reach at least a preliminary settlement through sincere engagement from both sides.