Kota Kinabalu: Nominated Assemblyman Roger Chin has called for immediate and concrete action on Sabah’s 40 per cent special grant, warning that continued delays risk undermining a constitutional obligation already affirmed by the courts.
Speaking during the debate on the motion of thanks for the Yang di-Pertua Negeri’s address at the State Legislative Assembly sitting on Monday, he said the issue was no longer about procedure or negotiation, but about upholding the Constitution.
Chin noted that the High Court had ruled that the failure to review the grant since 1974 constituted a breach of constitutional duty, and that Sabah’s entitlement is not discretionary but remains due.
“I am not here to argue the appeal, but to ask what has actually been done to give effect to that decision,” he said.
He questioned why payments based on the constitutional formula had yet to be implemented in recent years, particularly from 2022 onwards, when relevant revenue data is already available.
“There can be no excuse of missing data, only whether there is the will to act,” he said, suggesting that implementation could begin with current calculations if historical figures remain disputed.
Chin cautioned that prolonged negotiations without firm timelines risk repeating decades of delay, describing it as a recurring pattern despite the constitutional basis of the claim.
He also linked the issue to the State’s development framework under Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0, noting that fiscal certainty is essential for planning infrastructure, investment and economic growth.
“Without that, every plan stands on uncertain ground,” he said.
Chin further called for greater transparency in ongoing negotiations and urged the State Government to clarify its position, including whether it supports revenue collection at source to ensure accurate and verifiable figures.
During the debate, Tamparuli Assemblyman Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau raised concerns over whether the 180-day negotiation period set by the court was sufficient. Chin responded that the timeframe would have been adequate if discussions had been conducted with urgency.
“Four meetings in 180 days, mostly technical, do not reflect urgency,” he said.
Describing the matter as one that transcends political lines, Chin urged the State Assembly to adopt a unified stance on Sabah’s constitutional rights.
“A delay of 50 years is not just a delay. It becomes a test of whether, when the law is clear, there is the will to act,” he said.
He also called on the Chief Minister to outline a clear timeline and concrete steps towards implementation in his winding-up speech.
“Sabah has waited long enough. What remains is only one question – will it be honoured?” he said.
