Kota Kinabalu: Kapayan Assemblyman Chin Tek Ming said the Sabah Legislative Assembly is the proper platform to debate and reach consensus on the State’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement claim under Article 112C of the Federal Constitution.
Speaking during the State Legislative Assembly sitting, he said the issue should be resolved through the Assembly and Cabinet discussions rather than relying on public demonstrations.
“The Assembly, as the highest legislative authority in Sabah, should be where all elected representatives unite and give a clear mandate to the State Government to pursue the claim firmly with the Federal Government,” he said.
“Why can’t we, the highest authority, the State Assembly, debate on this? This is exactly the proper forum,” he said.
Chin said while he fully supported civil society groups and non-governmental organisations advocating for Sabah’s rights, stronger action should come from within the government itself through official State institutions.
“What for demonstrations here and there? Do it in Cabinet or in the State Legislative Assembly, better,” he said. He stressed that the 40 per cent entitlement was not merely an aspiration but a constitutional obligation that must be fulfilled.
“Federal Constitution is about obligation, responsibility, not aspiration,” he said, correcting remarks made during the debate that described the claim as an aspiration.
He said if the State Assembly passed a united resolution on the matter, it would strengthen the Chief Minister’s position in negotiations with Putrajaya.
“I have the full mandate from Sabah. Now, you give me back. If not, we know what to do,” he said, referring to the leverage such a united stance would provide.
Chin said successful recovery of the 40 per cent entitlement would significantly improve Sabah’s ability to address long-standing infrastructure issues involving roads, water and electricity.
“If we get the 40 per cent from those four years, it becomes easier to solve the three core issues.
“Roads can be completed, water is available and electricity is stable,” he said.
He said such improvements would directly benefit the people and help resolve issues that have persisted for years across the State.
He added that the issue was not about benefiting the opposition but about securing Sabah’s rights and improving the people’s quality of life.
“What we are proposing is not for us, but for Sabah and for the current Sabah government,” he said.
He also urged transparency in the process, including disclosure of calculations and relevant meeting minutes involving negotiations between the State and Federal Governments over the revenue claim.
Earlier, Chin also highlighted Sabah’s wider economic challenges, saying the State remained rich in natural resources but continued to face persistent poverty, income inequality and rising living costs.
He said the situation showed that Sabah was not lacking in resources, but in economic control, as major decisions involving strategic sectors such as oil and gas, logistics and large investments were often made outside the State.
Chin said Sabah should no longer accept delays on the 40 per cent issue, stressing that every year of inaction meant billions in lost development opportunities for the State.
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