SRI TANJONG Assemblyman Justin Wong Yung Bin proposed that a special State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting be convened to thoroughly discuss Sabah’s 40 per cent net revenue entitlement.
He noted that the Prime Minister has acknowledged Sabah’s right to the 40pc revenue share, but recent developments at the Court of Appeal have raised concerns.
“This matter is the ‘elephant in the room’ that we need to address,” he said.
Justin said the 40pc entitlement issue has never been specifically debated in the Assembly and should be a key agenda item whenever the State Legislative Assembly convenes, as it directly affects millions of Sabahans and could significantly impact the state’s fiscal position.
“A special sitting must be held to discuss this constitutional issue, as its implications are enormous, both legally and financially for Sabah,” he added.
“If such a major issue is not discussed here, do we want to discuss it outside the Assembly, in public forums or coffee shop conversations?”
He pointed out that he had conducted research and found numerous precedents where State Assemblies had debated federal constitutional issues, such as the Johor constitutional crisis in 1993 regarding royal immunity, proposals to reintroduce local government elections in Penang, water disputes between Penang and Kedah, the five percent oil royalty issue in Terengganu, and oil and gas rights in Sarawak.
“These examples prove that the State Assembly is the main platform to defend the rights of the people. We do not need ‘permission’ from the Federal Government to debate our own rights,” he stressed.
Justin urged the Speaker to seriously consider the motion raised by the Kepayan Assemblyman, as this is the appropriate time and place to discuss the matter.
Earlier in his speech, Justin noted that the issues he was raising were the same ones voiced five years ago and remain unresolved.
He also questioned why, with government reserves of RM8.6 billion, the people continue to suffer from failing basic infrastructure, including water supply, electricity, roads, and flooding.
He highlighted that Tawau’s water supply system is experiencing “systemic failure,” with 374 disruptions recorded since the beginning of the year. On road maintenance, he revealed that major roads crucial to Tawau’s economy have not been comprehensively upgraded in years.
“There are resurfacing projects in residential areas that are allegedly ‘selectively patched,’ where only certain sections are repaired while the worst potholes are left untouched,” he said.
He pointed out that the Sungai Tawau flood mitigation project, which began in 2019, is still stalled, leaving residents to suffer from recent flash floods.
He also said the Tawau Municipal Council (MPT) lacks sufficient basic cleaning equipment to perform its duties, reflecting weaknesses in disaster management.
