PENAMPANG: Kapayan Assemblyman Datuk Chin Tek Ming has filed a private motion in the Sabah Legislative Assembly seeking the implementation of Sabah’s constitutional right to 40 per cent of net revenue derived from the State.
The motion, submitted on April 2, covers claims from 2022 to 2025 and subsequent years, as provided under Article 112C and the Tenth Schedule of the Federal Constitution.
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It is supported by four Warisan assemblymen, namely Jamil Hamzah of Bugaya, Yusri Pungut of Sindumin, Mohammad Abdul Karim of Segama and Nurulalsah Hassan Alban of Sungai Sibuga.
Chin said the move was prompted by a significant gap between payments received by Sabah and the actual revenue collected by the Federal Government.
Based on parliamentary records, Sabah received RM125.6 million annually in 2022 and 2023, RM300 million in 2024 and RM600 million for 2025, including an additional allocation announced by the Prime Minister.
However, he said federal revenue collected from Sabah is estimated at between RM20 billion and RM30 billion annually.
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“This means Sabah’s entitlement should be around RM8 billion to RM12 billion a year,” he said, adding the State is short by between RM7 billion and RM11 billion annually.
He said for the period from 2022 to 2025 alone, the shortfall could amount to between RM28 billion and RM44 billion.
Chin claimed payments for recent years can be calculated quickly using existing systems and should not be delayed. “All revenue collected from Sabah can be easily calculated. With digital records, the amount is already known. Based on that, pay the 40 per cent,” he said.
Likas Assemblyman Datuk Tham Yun Fook called for support from all assemblymen. “This should not be controversial. All elected representatives should support this because it is good for Sabah,” he said.
He said amounts which are already clear and calculable should be paid first, while older claims can be addressed separately.
“There is no reason not to pay what is already clear,” he said, pointing to Sabah’s infrastructure challenges including damaged roads, water disruptions and ageing systems.
Jamil questioned the continued delay despite the constitutional provision, says “When the people break the law, they are punished. But when the Constitution is not fulfilled, what happens.”
Warisan Supreme Council member Chen Ket Chuin also called for transparency in negotiations, urging both governments to disclose meeting details.
“We are still in the dark. We do not know what has been discussed or what progress has been made,” he said.
The motion also calls on the State Government to determine the actual amount owed, obtain full disclosure from the Federal Government and take necessary steps including legal action to ensure full implementation.
