TAWAU: The increase in Sabah’s interim payment from RM600 million to RM1.5 billion pending the implementation of the State’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement is proof that the negotiation approach adopted by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) is delivering results.
Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS) Information Chief Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan said the development also dispels claims that the Sabah Government has failed to fight for the State’s rights.
According to Nizam, Sabah’s rights struggle should not be measured by political rhetoric or emotionally charged statements on social media, but by the outcomes secured for the State and its people.
He said the announcement of the increased interim payment showed that the path of negotiation chosen by GRS was not a weak approach but one that has produced tangible results.
Welcoming the Prime Minister’s announcement on Saturday, Nizam said the outcome reflected the effectiveness of the State Government’s approach under Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, which prioritises negotiations, wisdom and constructive ties with the Federal Government.
He stressed that efforts to secure and finalise Sabah’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), including the implementation of the 40 per cent net revenue entitlement, involve complex legal, fiscal and administrative considerations as well as Federal-State relations.
Nizam said the increase to RM1.5 billion was not the final resolution but a significant development, as it demonstrated that Sabah’s claims continued to be heard, considered and translated into a larger financial commitment by the Federal Government.
He also took note of the Prime Minister’s assurance that the implementation of Sabah’s 40 per cent entitlement is no longer a question of whether it will be carried out, but rather the finalisation of its mechanism and implementation framework.
“GRS chooses a more mature approach. We remain firm in defending Sabah’s rights while maintaining a good working relationship with the Federal Government.
"This approach has enabled negotiations to continue, opened avenues for resolution and secured a larger interim outcome while the final formula is being concluded,” he said.
Nizam said PGRS would continue supporting efforts by both the State and Federal governments to finalise the implementation of the 40 per cent entitlement in a transparent, fair and timely manner in line with the spirit of MA63.
